A case-control study on non-disclosure of HIV positive status to a partner and mother-to-child transmission of HIV

• Main Author: Nyandat, Joram Lawrence
• Other Authors: Van Rensburg, Gisela Hildegard
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Non-disclosure; MTCT; Vertical transmission; Male partner involvement; Matched case-control study; HIV status; 362.19697920096762; AIDS (Disease) in Pregnancy > Zimbabwe > Kenya > Case studies; HIV-positive women > Kenya > Case studies; HIV infections > Social aspects > Kenya > Case studies
• Online Access: Nyandat, Joram Lawrence (2015) A case-control study on non-disclosure of HIV positive status to a partner and mother-to-child transmission of HIV, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/19209>; http://hdl.handle.net/10500/19209

Background: Non-disclosure of HIV positive status to a partner threatens to reverse gains made in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in resource limited settings. Determining the association between non-disclosure and infant HIV acquisition is important to justify focussing on disclosure as a strategy in PMTCT programmes. Objective: To determine the association between non-disclosure of HIV positive status to a partner and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Methods: Using a matched case-control design, we compared 34 HIV positive infants to 146 HIV negative infants and evaluated whether the mothers had disclosed their HIV status to their partner. Results: Non-disclosure was more frequent among cases (overall, 16.7%; cases, 52.8%; controls 7.6%), p<0.001 and significantly associated with MTCT (aOR 8.9 (3.0-26.3); p<0.0001), with male partner involvement partially mediating the effect of non-disclosure on MTCT. Conclusions: There is a need for PMTCT programs to focus on strategies to improve male partner involvement and partner disclosure without compromising the woman’s safety. === Health Studies === M. (Public Health)