Self Disclosure And Health Related Quality Of Life Of Hiv Infected Individuals In Enugu State Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the HIV sero-status disclosure behavior of

infected individuals in Enugu State Nigeria and to ascertain whether this is related to their

quality of life. Respondents were adults living with HIV/AIDS who were residing in Enugu

State Nigeria and who were recruited through snowball sampling process involving support

groups registered with the Enugu State Agency for AIDS Control (ENSACA). The study had

474 valid responses of which 41.5% are males and 58.5% are females. 39.7% are married,

38.6% are single and only 34% are in full time employment. About 82% of respondents have

had at least secondary level education. Findings show that only 61% of respondents have

revealed their diagnosis to someone other than an HIV infected person; and a much smaller

proportion (26%) have revealed publicly mainly through public events like World AIDS day,

or church worship services (48%), the radio (27%) or the Television (12%). Furthermore,

majority of respondents revealed their status within the first two years of diagnosis with

mothers and sisters being the most preferred targets to be entrusted with such intimate

information. Analysis also revealed that disclosure is not affected by sex and income of

respondent but by marital status and use of HIV drugs. Disclosing HIV status is also

positively associated with better quality of life and mental health of respondents but

negatively related to stress perception.