Factors associated with sharing HIV-positive serostatus in the city of Ouagadougou

Abstract

Objective: In Africa, as in Burkina Faso, the subject of sexuality is still taboo, even within couples, especially in the case of HIV infection. The aim of our study was to investigate the factors associated with sharing HIV-positive serostatus in three health facilities in Ouagadougou.

Patients and Methods: Descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study over a three-month period, from 1 April to 30 June 2019. The data collected were entered on computer and then analyzed and processed using Epi Info software.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.3 ± 10 years [16-85 years], with a sex ratio (M/F) of 0.2. When their HIV serology was announced, 321 patients (77%) had at least one sexual partner. Sixty-five patients (20.2%) said they had never shared their serostatus with their partner. Factors associated with not sharing HIV serostatus were knowledge of partner's status (p=0.000), marital status (p=0.000) and feeling abandoned after sharing (p=0.004).

Conclusion: Raising awareness for a better sharing of information in case of seropositivity of one or more partners, screening and treatment of any patient infected with HIV would undoubtedly allow breaking the chain of transmission. A larger-scale study would also help to identify other factors associated with sharing HIV serological status