Disclosure of HIV Status in Rural Tanzania: Practices, Facilitators and Barriers

Abstract

In Tanzania, HIV counselling and testing practices are now widely accepted as the cornerstone of HIV prevention programmes. Within HIV testing and counselling, emphasis is placed on the importance of individuals to disclose their HIV status. Despite increasing focus on disclosure of HIV status, relatively little is known about the process of disclosure of test results. Using in-depth interviews, this study examines the process, facilitators and barriers for people to disclose their HIV status in rural Tanzania. Nearly all respondents reported to have disclosed their test results to family members, partners,
friends and/or another person living with HIV. The process of disclosing one’s HIV status varied. A few respondents disclosed within one week after they learned of their results, but the vast majority disclosed within one year. Women were much less likely to disclose the test results to their sexual partners than were men. Perceived stigma played an important role in the decision not to disclose one’s HIV status. Disclosure of HIV status is a complex social process that occurs over time and within particular social relationships. Efforts need to be made to address social and cultural factors that make women fear to disclose their HIV test results to their sexual partners.

Keywords: HIV testing, disclosure of test results, Tanzania