HIV-positive status disclosure to a sexual partner and associated factors among HIV-positive pregnant women attending antenatal care in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

PLoS One. 2021 Apr 27;16(4):e0250637. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250637. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnant women who disclose their HIV-positive status to their sexual partners have played an important role in reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission to the baby during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postnatal periods. Studies are limited in the current study area in a similar arena. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the proportion of HIV-positive status disclosure and its associated factors among pregnant women.

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 156 HIV-positive pregnant women in Dire Dawa administrative from March 12th to May 10th, 2020. Data were generated using a pretested structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the predictor variables associated with the disclosure of HIV-positive status among pregnant women to their sexual partners. Finally, the adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals at P-value< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Of the total, 135 (86.5%) of HIV-positive pregnant women disclosed their HIV status to their sexual partner. Christian followers (both Orthodox and Protestant) [AOR = 8.8, 95% CI: 2.3. 34] more likely to disclose HIV status to their sexual partner than those Muslims. Those participants who started practicing safer sex [AOR = 17.6, 95% CI: 4-77] and those women who had a smooth relationship before the HIV disclosure were [AOR = 14.7, 95% CI: 3-68.6] more likely to disclose HIV status to their sexual partner than their counterparts, respectively.

Conclusions: The proportion of HIV serostatus disclosure by HIV-positive pregnant women attending antenatal care services to their sexual partners was encouraging. However, this does not mean that there is no need for further awareness and intervention. Hence, interventions to boost and support women in safely disclosing their HIV-positive status are needed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Ethiopia
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Logistic Models
  • Odds Ratio
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnant Women / psychology*
  • Prenatal Care
  • Religion
  • Safe Sex
  • Self Disclosure*
  • Sexual Partners
  • Social Support
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

Addis Ababa University has supported the study with grant number: AAUMF 03-008/2020 (Recipient: Mulusew Ambissa). The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.