Partnership duration and HIV serodisclosure among people living with HIV/AIDS in Lilongwe, Malawi

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS Vol. 29; no. 10; p. 987
• Main Authors: Mbichila, Tinkhani H, Chagomerana, Maganizo, Tang, Jennifer H, Haddad, Lisa B, Hosseinipour, Mina C, Tweya, Hannock, Phiri, Samuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.09.2018
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - psychology; HIV Seropositivity - psychology; Humans; Malawi; Male; Middle Aged; Self Disclosure; Sexual Partners; Time Factors; Truth Disclosure; Young Adult; Malawi; AIDS; HIV; antiretroviral therapy; prevention
• ISSN: 1758-1052
• DOI: 10.1177/0956462418769730

HIV serodisclosure to sexual partners is an important aspect of HIV prevention, treatment, and care. We investigated the association between partnership duration and serodisclosure among HIV-infected individuals in Lilongwe, Malawi. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional study of individuals attending one of two antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics in Lilongwe. Clients aged 18-45 years and sexually active within the past six months were eligible. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between partnership duration ≤1 year and serodisclosure. Five hundred and sixty-two participants completed the survey: 308 (55%) women and 254 (45%) men. Median age was 35 years (IQR 30-40), 90% were married, 88% were on ART, and 95% had serodisclosed to their partner. Marital status, knowledge of partner serostatus, and ART use were significantly associated with serodisclosure. Participants in a relationship for ≤1 year were significantly less likely to disclose their serostatus to their partners compared to those in a relationship for >1 year (OR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.58). Couple-based interventions that encourage serodisclosure among partners within their first year of relationship should be developed to decrease HIV transmission, encourage treatment and support.