Nondisclosure of HIV-positive Status: A Cross-sectional Survey in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

Abstract

The disclosure of HIV-positive status in Ghana's Greater Accra Region is dangerously low, which could be related to a variety of socioeconomic conditions. Because ignoring this occurrence for mitigation may be hazardous to public health, this study aimed to assess the factors that influence the nondisclosure of HIV-positive status among HIV patients in the La Nkwantanan Madina Metropolis of the Greater Accra Region. The study was conducted using a quantitative cross-sectional design. A convenient sampling technique was used to select 376 clients who had tested positive for HIV and accessed healthcare services at facilities located within the La Nkwantanang Madina Municipality. Data were collected using a closed-ended questionnaire and were analyzed using frequency and percentage, correlation coefficient, and multinomial regression. Marriage strongly predicted (OR=9.923 [95% CI: 1.289-76.411]; p=0.028) HIV-positive nondisclosure to partners; female gender (OR=8.178 [95% CI: 1.048-63.830]; p=0.045) and public sector of employment (OR=8.786 [1.631-47.338]; p=0.011) predicted HIV-positive nondisclosure to family; and marriage (OR=6.458 [95% CI: 0.564-20.716]; p=0.042), public sector of employment (OR=8.000 [95% CI: 1.140-50.132]; p=0.036) and private sector work (OR=7.943 [1.304-48.392]; p=0.025) strongly predicted HIV-positive nondisclosure to friends. Marriage, female gender, and sector of work were strong predictors of HIV non-disclosure by people living with HIV in the La Nkwantanan Madina Metropolis.