On non-disclosure of hiv-positive status

In many cases, people do not disclose their HIV-positive status because of fear of being rejected by society. This can have both positive and negative effects. Between 2012-2014 we performed an anonymous survey of 187 HIV-positive patients and individual interviews of 52 HIV-positive patients in the Volgograd regional center for prevention and treatment of AIDS and infectious diseases and the Volgograd regional clinical hospital for infectious diseases №1 to evaluate and describe the influence of disclosing HIV-positive status on the doctor-patient relationship and interactions of patients and their families. We analyzed the frequencies of responses to the questions posed in the questionnaire (expressed as a percentage) and for interview questions to conclude that the doctor-patient relationship and interactions of patients and their families correlate with decision-making about disclosure of HIV-positive status. Disclosure of HIV infection to the family members was associated with high levels of interaction; however, disclosure of HIV infection to health professionals was associated with low levels of interaction (unfriendly attitudes, lack of confidentiality). The article describes the motives which guide decision-making about disclosure of HIV-positive status in HIV-positive patients.

HIV-infection, secret of the diagnosis, medical secret, role interaction