Table 2.
Participants views on the advantages and disadvantages of 3 methods for delivery of facilitated disclosure
| Facilitated disclosure method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Health worker teaches you how to go and talk to your spouse |
1.Given opportunity to personally disclose HIV to partner (open up to partner) |
1. Difficult to discuss HIV status with partner alone |
| 2. Added knowledge which can initiate HIV disclosure |
2. May result in disagreement and quarrels between couples |
|
| 3. Increase understanding between couples |
3. May result in abuse |
|
| |
4. Learn strategies for HIV disclosure |
4. May result in separation |
| Health worker tells you to go and bring your partner to health care facility |
1. Opportunity to be counseled together |
1. Partner may refuse to go to clinic |
| 2. Shows doctors care about couples’ lives |
2. Inviting partner to go to health care facility for HIV testing could evoke suspicion of positive HIV status which could result in abuse/violence |
|
| 3. Learn how to disclose to partner |
3. May be blamed for the HIV infection |
|
| 4. Support is provided to assist with disclosure | ||
| 5. Increase understanding between couples | ||
| 6. Increase communication between couples | ||
| 7. Could contribute to PMTCT | ||
| 8. Ability to access treatment | ||
| |
9. Privacy |
|
| Health worker decides to visit the home |
1. Contribute to acceptance of HIV infection |
1. May spark questions/concerns or gossip in the community |
| 2. Contribute to adherence to medication |
2. Community members may suspect HIV-infection |
|
| 3. Increase knowledge |
3. May result in stigma |
|
| 4. Reduce cost to go the health care facility cost |
4. May experience embarrassment for self or family |
|
| 5. Reduce hospital fears |
5. Potential breach of confidentiality by health workers |
|
| 6. Potential for individuals in the community to benefit |
6. Neighbors may become knowledgeable of one's HIV status |
|
| 7. Potential to have health checks for self and family at home |
7. May result in separation |
|
| 8. Shows doctors care about couples’ lives |
8. May experience abuse/violence from partner |
|
| 9. Promotes HIV testing | 9. Some community members may avoid the home visit |