Smith, Thandeka;
Seeley, Janet;
Shahmanesh, Maryam;
Psaros, Christina;
Munikwa, Chiedza;
Ngwenya, Nothando;
(2023)
Influences on decision-making about disclosure of HIV status by adolescents and young adults living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
African Journal of AIDS Research
, 22
(4)
pp. 306-315.
10.2989/16085906.2023.2277358.
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Abstract
Background: Adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYA) are faced with the challenge of living with a life-long chronic condition. We investigated the influences on the decisions by AYA to disclose their HIV status to family, intimate partners and friends.Methods: Twenty AYA aged between 15 and 24 years were purposely selected through local community-based organisations in eThekwini municipality and uMkhanyakude district in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Virtual in-depth interviews were conducted between September 2020 to October 2021 using a topic guide focusing on HIV-status disclosure and the impact of stigma on decision-making capacity. An iterative thematic process was used for analysis.Results: Findings revealed the challenges that AYA experience for disclosure because of stigma and how this impacts their decision-making capacity. Family and friends influenced AYA in processing their discovery of their HIV status offering support needed to manage living with HIV. However, for some AYA disclosing to relatives, friends and intimate partners was difficult because of fears of rejection and recrimination. The act of disclosure was influenced by both internalised and external stigma and the type of relationships and interactions that AYA had with relatives, friends and caregivers.Conclusions: The decision to disclose is challenging for AYA because of the fear of rejection, along with internal and external stigma. The provision of support, whether from family or peers, is important. Enhancing the decision-making capacity of AYA is essential for developing their self-esteem as well as supporting future healthcare choices.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Influences on decision-making about disclosure of HIV status by adolescents and young adults living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Location: | South Africa |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.2989/16085906.2023.2277358 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/16085906.2023.2277358 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2023 The Author(s). Co-published by NISC Pty (Ltd) and Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent. |
| Keywords: | HIV disclosure, negotiating life, self-identity, social factors, socio-ecological approach, young people, Humans, Adolescent, Young Adult, Adult, HIV Infections, Disclosure, South Africa, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Partners, Social Stigma, Truth Disclosure |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute for Global Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute for Global Health > Infection and Population Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10184632 |
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