Barriers to HIV Positive Status Disclosure among Spouses in Kibera Slum, Nairobi County; Kenya

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VII, July 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Barriers to HIV Positive Status Disclosure among Spouses in Kibera Slum, Nairobi County; Kenya

Winfred Mbula Nzioka¹, Dr. Dennis Nyongesa Wamalwa, PhD², John Oduor Ondiege^3
 1MSc Candidate, in Health Systems Management, Kenya Methodist University – Kenya, BA in Psychology, Egerton University –Kenya, Diploma in Nursing (KRCHN)-Kenya
²Lecturer / Consultant; Ph.D., Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya, MA Counselling Studies, University of Manchester UK.
³MSc Candidate, in Health Systems Management, Kenya Methodist University – Kenya, BSc Prosthetist and Orthotist, Tumaini University -Tanzania

Abstract- This study aimed to explore the reasons underlying the barriers to disclosing positive status to spouses among people with HIV infection. This was a qualitative exploratory study where 12 respondents participated in the study which had one focus group discussion of 6 members who had disclosed their HIV positive status to their spouses and individual sessions for the 6 members who had not disclosed their status to spouses. They were purposively recruited from 6 deferent post- test clubs they attended within Kibera informal settlement and who were all receiving health care services at MSF Belgium based facilities in Kibera informal settlement. Both one on one and FGD sessions were audiotaped recorded with permission from participants and were verbatim transcribed. Data was analyzed qualitatively by thematic analysis technique. Five major themes emerged from the data; fear of abandonment, fear of rejection/ discrimination, fear of violence, fear of upsetting family members and fear of accusation of infidelity. The study recommended that ongoing Counselling and HIV support groups through post-test clubs may present a key opportunity for discussing fears and concerns around disclosure as well as sharing disclosure strategies amongst peers.

I. INTRODUCTION

UNAIDS (2015) noted that in 35% of countries with available data, over 50% of people reported having discriminatory attitudes towards people living with HIV infection (PLWH). HIV-related stigma and discrimination refers to prejudice, negative attitudes and abuse directed at people living with HIV and AIDS. According to WHO, (2011) and UNAIDS, (2014), it is against such background that fear of stigma and discrimination is known as the main reason for HIV-infected people not to disclose their HIV status and take antiretroviral treatment. (Sayles et al, Wong, Kinsler, Martins, & Cunningham (2009) reported that HIV-infected people who reported experiencing high levels of stigma were over four times more likely to report poor access to care. Stigma and discrimination can prevent HIV-infected people from disclosing their status after finding out they were HIV positive. The disclosure of HIV status among people who test positive for HIV has important implications for preventing new HIV infections and for the treatment, care and support of PLWH.

Read More