HEALTH COMMUNICATION APPROACHES IN REDUCING HESITANT DISCLOSURE OF HIV/AIDS STATUS AMONG PLWHIV IN AKWANGA L.G.A OF NASARAWA STATE

This study, Health Communication Approaches in Reducing Hesitant Disclosure of HIV/AIDS among affected Persons in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State was guided by the following objectives; to examine the effects of health communication on behavioural change among Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Akwanga, to find out how health communication approach has reduced hesitant disclosure among Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Akwanga and to determine the extent which health communication approach has helped in reducing hesitant disclosure among Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Akwanga. The study applied survey research design and using questionnaire as the major instrument for data collection. The study revealed that, respondents counsel People Living with HIV/AIDS, thus, informative, educative, persuasive and prompting approaches are the communication approaches used in counseling PLWH. The study also found that, improved confidence, increased awareness in controlling and managing HIV/AIDS, reduced intimate partner violence (IPV) and increased participation to HIV testing services, couple counselling and access to care are the effects of health communication on behavior change among PLWH. The study however, concluded that health communication approach is of great essence to reducing hesitant disclosure among Persons Living with HID/AIDS. The study recommends among other things that, a study of this nature should be carried out to accommodate more than one facilities to arrive at a more concrete and effective results