“It’s My Secret”: Fear of Disclosure among Sub-Saharan African Migrant Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Belgium

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 3; p. e0119653
• Main Authors: Arrey, Agnes Ebotabe, Bilsen, Johan, Lacor, Patrick, Deschepper, Reginald
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 17.03.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - ethnology; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - psychology; Adolescent; Adult; Africa South of the Sahara - ethnology; AIDS; Alcoholism; Belgium - ethnology; Caregivers; Chronic illnesses; Confidentiality; Content analysis; Counseling; Disclosure; Disease; Disease prevention; Drug therapy; Emigrants and Immigrants; Female; Health care; Health services; HIV; HIV patients; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Medical diagnosis; Medical personnel; Medicine; Mens health; Mental disorders; Middle Aged; Migrants; Pharmacy; Primary care; Public health; Qualitative research; Self disclosure; Sociology; Stigma; Taboos; Trauma; Truth Disclosure; Women; Womens health; Belgium; Africa South of the Sahara
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119653

Patients with HIV not only have to deal with the challenges of living with an incurable disease but also with the dilemma of whether or not to disclose their status to their partners, families and friends. This study explores the extent to which sub-Saharan African (SSA) migrant women in Belgium disclose their HIV positive status, reasons for disclosure/non-disclosure and how they deal with HIV disclosure. A qualitative study consisting of interviews with twenty-eight SSA women with HIV/AIDS was conducted. Thematic content analysis was employed to identify themes as they emerged. Our study reveals that these women usually only disclose their status to healthcare professionals because of the treatment and care they need. This selective disclosure is mainly due to the taboo of HIV disease in SSA culture. Stigma, notably self-stigma, greatly impedes HIV disclosure. Techniques to systematically incorporate HIV disclosure into post-test counseling and primary care services are highly recommended.