HIV disclosure and stigma among women living with HIV in Denmark
Objective: To identify disclosure, stigma and predictors of non-disclosure among women living with HIV in Denmark. Methods: A questionnaire study of women living with HIV in Denmark was performed. The enrolment period was from February 2013 to March 2014. Logistic regression was used to estimate pre...
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doaj-5154ed53081c4582837e8de0e72f6b7a2021-05-04T07:23:32ZengElsevierJournal of Virus Eradication2055-66402017-07-0133140144HIV disclosure and stigma among women living with HIV in DenmarkMaria Wessman0Kristina Thorsteinsson1Merete Storgaard2Frederikke F. Rönsholt3Isik S. Johansen4Gitte Pedersen5Lars N. Nielsen6Nina Wies7Terese L. Katzenstein8Anne-Mette Lebech9Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Denmark; Corresponding author: Maria Wessman, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Kettegaard Alle 30, 2650, Hvidovre, DenmarkDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, DenmarkDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, DenmarkDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, DenmarkDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, DenmarkDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Aalborg University Hospital, DenmarkDepartment of Lung and Infectious Diseases, Nordsjællands Hospital, DenmarkDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, DenmarkObjective: To identify disclosure, stigma and predictors of non-disclosure among women living with HIV in Denmark. Methods: A questionnaire study of women living with HIV in Denmark was performed. The enrolment period was from February 2013 to March 2014. Logistic regression was used to estimate predictors of non-disclosure. Results: A total of 234 participants were included. The majority (94%) had disclosed their HIV status to at least one person outside their healthcare environment, although 29% had disclosed to fewer than three people. Confidantes were mostly partners (96%), siblings (63%), friends (63%) and children (41%). The primary reason for non-disclosure was a feeling that it did not concern others (55%), although reactions upon disclosure were mainly positive in 53%. Predictors of non-disclosure were being of black or Asian ethnicity. Following their HIV diagnosis, 40% no longer dared to have sex, 40% felt isolated and 23% felt that others were afraid and kept a physical distance. In contrast, after disclosure 75% felt better at taking decisions about life and 50% were in closer contact with family and friends. Conclusion: Almost one-third of participants disclosed their HIV diagnosis to fewer than three people and black or Asian ethnicity predicted non-disclosure. HIV-related stigma regarding sex and contact with others is still highly prevalent; however, reactions to disclosure were mainly positive and associated with secondary positive gains. We strongly urge healthcare professionals to initiate a dialogue regarding stigma and disclosure with women living with HIV with a view to increasing disclosure and minimising stigmatisation in this vulnerable population.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2055664020303320HIVwomendisclosurestigmablack or Asian ethnicity |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Maria Wessman Kristina Thorsteinsson Merete Storgaard Frederikke F. Rönsholt Isik S. Johansen Gitte Pedersen Lars N. Nielsen Nina Wies Terese L. Katzenstein Anne-Mette Lebech |
spellingShingle |
Maria Wessman Kristina Thorsteinsson Merete Storgaard Frederikke F. Rönsholt Isik S. Johansen Gitte Pedersen Lars N. Nielsen Nina Wies Terese L. Katzenstein Anne-Mette Lebech HIV disclosure and stigma among women living with HIV in Denmark Journal of Virus Eradication HIV women disclosure stigma black or Asian ethnicity |
author_facet |
Maria Wessman Kristina Thorsteinsson Merete Storgaard Frederikke F. Rönsholt Isik S. Johansen Gitte Pedersen Lars N. Nielsen Nina Wies Terese L. Katzenstein Anne-Mette Lebech |
author_sort |
Maria Wessman |
title |
HIV disclosure and stigma among women living with HIV in Denmark |
title_short |
HIV disclosure and stigma among women living with HIV in Denmark |
title_full |
HIV disclosure and stigma among women living with HIV in Denmark |
title_fullStr |
HIV disclosure and stigma among women living with HIV in Denmark |
title_full_unstemmed |
HIV disclosure and stigma among women living with HIV in Denmark |
title_sort |
hiv disclosure and stigma among women living with hiv in denmark |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Journal of Virus Eradication |
issn |
2055-6640 |
publishDate |
2017-07-01 |
description |
Objective: To identify disclosure, stigma and predictors of non-disclosure among women living with HIV in Denmark. Methods: A questionnaire study of women living with HIV in Denmark was performed. The enrolment period was from February 2013 to March 2014. Logistic regression was used to estimate predictors of non-disclosure. Results: A total of 234 participants were included. The majority (94%) had disclosed their HIV status to at least one person outside their healthcare environment, although 29% had disclosed to fewer than three people. Confidantes were mostly partners (96%), siblings (63%), friends (63%) and children (41%). The primary reason for non-disclosure was a feeling that it did not concern others (55%), although reactions upon disclosure were mainly positive in 53%. Predictors of non-disclosure were being of black or Asian ethnicity. Following their HIV diagnosis, 40% no longer dared to have sex, 40% felt isolated and 23% felt that others were afraid and kept a physical distance. In contrast, after disclosure 75% felt better at taking decisions about life and 50% were in closer contact with family and friends. Conclusion: Almost one-third of participants disclosed their HIV diagnosis to fewer than three people and black or Asian ethnicity predicted non-disclosure. HIV-related stigma regarding sex and contact with others is still highly prevalent; however, reactions to disclosure were mainly positive and associated with secondary positive gains. We strongly urge healthcare professionals to initiate a dialogue regarding stigma and disclosure with women living with HIV with a view to increasing disclosure and minimising stigmatisation in this vulnerable population. |
topic |
HIV women disclosure stigma black or Asian ethnicity |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2055664020303320 |
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