Consequences of HIV testing without consent

The objective of this study is to explore the HIV-infected individuals' experience with HIV testing, counselling, disclosure of diagnosis and subsequent life events following diagnosis. The method used is a questionnaire survey of 340 consecutive HIV-positive victims, seen in two health institu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of STD & AIDS 2006-02, Vol.17 (2), p.93-96
Main Authors: OBI, Samuel N, IFEBUNANDU, Ngozi A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
AIDS/HIV
Attitude to Health
Bioethics
Biological and medical sciences
Counseling
Epidemiology. Vaccinations
Female
General aspects
HIV Infections - diagnosis
HIV Infections - psychology
HIV Infections - therapy
HIV Seropositivity
Human immunodeficiency virus
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Male
Medical sciences
Primary Health Care
Sexual Behavior
Surveys and Questionnaires
Truth Disclosure
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
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Summary:The objective of this study is to explore the HIV-infected individuals' experience with HIV testing, counselling, disclosure of diagnosis and subsequent life events following diagnosis. The method used is a questionnaire survey of 340 consecutive HIV-positive victims, seen in two health institutions in southeast Nigeria within a one-year-period, November 2003 to October 2004. Three hundred and twenty respondents answered the questionnaire, 121 were men and 199 women, with 79% in the age range 20–39 years. Most respondents had known their HIV status for 3.2 (±1.1) years and the majority are in the lower social class. About 80% reported that their consent for HIV test was not asked for, resulting in feelings of fear, disbelief, shock and embarrassment on learning about their HIV status. Despite the initial reaction to the diagnosis, majority (81.9%) expressed satisfaction with the pattern of disclosure of diagnosis. There was some reluctance to inform spouse/partner of the diagnosis especially among asymptomatic, unmarried, childless or divorced victims. A serodiscordant couple resulted in mistrust and increased incidence of abandonment. Apart from spouse/partner the respondents are more likely to inform their siblings of the diagnosis than parents, children or friends. Despite being supportive, the respondents are more likely to suffer more neglect from siblings than their spouse (P
ISSN:0956-4624
1758-1052
DOI:10.1258/095646206775455649