Positive Status Disclosure and Sexual Risk Behavior Changes among People Living with HIV in the Northern Region of Ghana
Objective: To investigate sexual behavior changes adopted by People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV) on Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Northern Region of Ghana. Methods: We employed a cross-sectional survey with a questionnaire to collect data from 900 clients from 9 major ART c...
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MDPI AG,
2023-05-01T00:00:00Z.
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| Summary: | Objective: To investigate sexual behavior changes adopted by People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV) on Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Northern Region of Ghana. Methods: We employed a cross-sectional survey with a questionnaire to collect data from 900 clients from 9 major ART centers within the region. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were applied to the data. Results: More than 50% of PLHIV on ART use condoms, reduce sexual partners, practice abstinence, reduce unprotected sex with married/regular partners, and avoid casual sex. Fear of others getting to know patients' HIV-positive status (<i>χ</i><sup>2</sup> = 7.916, <i>p</i> = 0.005), stigma (<i>χ</i><sup>2</sup> = 5.201, <i>p</i> = 0.023), and fear of loss of family support (<i>χ</i><sup>2</sup> = 4.211, <i>p</i> = 0.040) significantly predict non-disclosure of HIV-positive status among the participants. Change in sexual behavior is influenced by the following: "to avoid spreading the disease to others" (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.043, <i>F</i> (1, 898) = 40.237, <i>p</i> < 0.0005), "to avoid contracting other STIs" (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.010, <i>F</i> (1, 898) = 8.937, <i>p</i> < 0.0005), "to live long" (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.038, <i>F</i> (1, 898) = 35.816, <i>p</i> < 0.0005), "to hide HIV-positive status" (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.038, F (1, 898) = 35.587, <i>p</i> < 0.0005), "to achieve good results from ART treatment" (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.005, <i>F</i> (1, 898) = 4. 282, <i>p</i> < 0.05), and "to live a Godly life" (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.023, <i>F</i> (1, 898) = 20. 880, <i>p</i> < 0.0005). Conclusions: High self-disclosure rate of HIV-positive status was identified, with participants disclosing to their spouses or parents. Reasons for disclosure and non-disclosure differed from person to person. |
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| Item Description: | 10.3390/idr15030026 2036-7449 |