Abstract:

To halt HIV new infections, it is important to also understand the gender differences related to disclosure of sero-status among people living with HIV/AIDS. The objective of this study was to understand the trends in disclosure rates of at-risk partners focusing much attention on sexual partners among men and women living with HIV/AIDS. This was in an effort to forge workable strategies towards partner notification bearing in mind the disclosure disparities, if any, inherent in them. Secondary/Archival data analysis of gender variations of 3,990 above 14 years old of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), entered in Facility Information Management System (FIMS), from October 2018 to September 2019 was done. Findings were that from a total of 3,990 PLHIV 23% were males, while 74% were females indicating a higher prevalence of HIV among females than males. Overall acceptance rate of 92% (3,683) PLHIV willing to disclose who their at-risk (sexual) partners to HIV were, with a 7% gender difference (87% of males accepted while 94% females) and only 8% declining to disclose (13% males and 6% females). Further analysis of at-risk (sexual) partners aged 15 years and above, indicated that more males were at-risk of contracting HIV (63% males vs 37% females), and that they may be the most unaware of their sero-status. This prompts for new strategies aimed at reaching out to and promoting more men to know their sero-status as they are both riskier and unaware of their HIV status, unlike females.

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