How Do Time Since Diagnosis and Sociodemographic Factors Influence Attitudes Towards HIV Status Disclosure in People Living with HIV in Poland? Data from Go Holistic Go Beyond Project

Abstract

The aim of this publication is to present the data from Polish respondents of the Go Holistic Go Beyond Project, which investigates social, professional and intimate relations of people living with HIV in Central and Eastern Europe. We analyze how the patients’ attitude towards disclosing their HIV status changes over time from diagnosis. A questionnaire was distributed among patients by three HIV out-patient clinics. Respondents were compared in three groups defined by the time from diagnosis: over 10 years ago, 6–10 years ago and within 5 years. In total, 381 persons living with HIV participated in the survey, 354 of respondents were male, 23 were female and 4 of the respondents did not identify with any of the above sexes. A significant decrease in hospital-diagnosed cases (from 53% to 39%) was observed, alongside an increased role of private laboratories and voluntary counseling and testing centers. Eighty-nine percent of participants shared their HIV status with at least one social group. There was no significant change in the patterns of HIV status disclosure, reason and form of HIV testing. Our results emphasize the importance of survey-based studies in identifying the needs of people living with HIV in order to improve their general well-being.

Keywords

• HIV status disclosure
• stigma
• sharing HIV status
• HIV testing