HIV-Positive Status Disclosure and Relationship Dynamics Among Serodiscordant Partners in Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines the impact of HIV-positive status disclosure on categorical outcomes: commitment, trust, sexual intimacy and communication which drive the relationship dynamics among serodiscordant partners in Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve this objective, the assumptions of Sick Role Theory and those of the Theory of Planned Behaviour were adopted as theoretical framework. Combining the purposive and snowball sampling techniques, two hundred and forty-four (244) HIV-positive individuals who met the inclusion criteria of being in a serodiscordant relationship (HIV-negative or unknown HIV status partner) for at least three months were recruited from the study area. In order to facilitate efficient data collection, the Open Data Kit (ODK) Collect mobile application was used to administer the questionnaire. The respondents were within the age range of 19 to 54 years. Data show a sex distribution of 61.9% females and 38.1% males, while 44.3% of the respondents had disclosed their HIV status to their partners. Results of the multinomial logistic regression analysis reveals that HIV-positive status disclosure is not a significant predictor of the changes in commitment and communication experienced among the respondents. However, HIV Status Disclosure appear to significantly impact the likelihood of reducing trust and sexual intimacy relative to unchanged trust and sexual intimacy, indicating its impact is specific to certain categories of dynamics within serodiscordant relationships in the study area. To address these changes, evidence-based recommendations emphasize the importance of health promotion and psychosocial support to promote healthier relationships and disclosure outcomes for persons living with HIV in serodiscordant relationships