ABSTRACT
Disclosure of HIV status especially to sexual partners is an important prevention goal. Many international organizations including UNAIDS, WHO and CDC are emphasizing the importance of HIV status disclosure. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of HIV status disclosure and the factors that are associated with disclosure of HIV status by HIV positive patients attending the adult ART clinic in Gombe State Specialist Hospital (GSSH) This was a cross sectional descriptive study among adult HIV positive patients at GSSH. Study participant were sample using a systematic random sampling technique and interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. A total of 198 out of 200 respondents were interviewed yielding a response rate of 99%. There were more female (80.3%) respondents compared to male (19.7%). Majority (76.8%) of the respondents were between 20 and 39years old with a mean age of 32.9years. 60.1% of the respondents were married with majority (78%) of them in a monogamous family setting. The vast majority (97.5%) had disclosed their HIV status and majority (36.8%) of them disclosed to their spouses. 64% of the respondents had treatment supporter and spouses (42.9%) were their choice of a treatment supporter. Disclosure of HIV status was found to be associated only with young age (<40years) [AOR 38.16; 95% CI 2.42-602.61]. However, female gender [AOR 1.53; 95% CI 0.14-17.02] and being employed [AOR 9.76; 95% CI 0.64-148.65] are more likely to disclose HIV status. While being educated [AOR 0.69; 95% CI 0.07-6.74], short duration of infection (<1year) [AOR 0.18; 95% CI 0.01-3.17] and being married [AOR 0.31; 95% CI 0.02- 4.23] make it less likely to disclose HIV status. Disclosure of HIV status was high in the study population. Spouses were the most preferential choice of persons HIV statuses were disclosed to and also the most adopted as treatment supporter. HIV status disclosure should be made soon after diagnosis because of its importance especially to couples. This encourages family support and lessens stigmatization. Key words: Disclosure Factors; HIV Status; Gombe State.