Women Living with HIV/AIDS and Disclosure
Purpose/Aims/Rationale: Approximately 1.2 million individuals in the United States are infected with HIV. One in four of those with HIV are women. Disadvantaged women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHA) continue to experience barriers to disclosing their HIV/AIDS status due to intimate partner violence, sexual abuse, and stigma. The purpose of this study was to examine disclosure among a group of WLWHA in Southern California. Conceptual Basis: The study was designed to examine the relationships among select sociodemographic factors, clinical measures, and WLWHA disclosure. This design was supported by the Chaudoir’s Disclosure Process Model and Machtinger’s Trauma-Informed Care Model. Methods: This retrospective, correlational study utilized previously-collected, de-identified data obtained from the Coordinated HIV Assistance and Navigation for Growth and Empowerment for Women and national HIV Retention in Care Programs at a selected Southern California site. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe the sample of 116 WLWHA and the relationships among the database variables. Findings: Statistically significant bivariate analysis were revealed within the sociodemographic and clinical measure variables. None of the variable comparisons were statistically significant when examined in relationship to disclosure. Implications: WLWHA are a hard-to-reach, vulnerable population. Screening and intervention strategies may be key to disclosure. Further research is needed to facilitate disclosure, improve access and retention in care, and optimize health care outcomes potentially lowering health costs and producing a healthier patient population.
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