HIV disclosure among HIV positive new mothers in South Africa

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HIV disclosure and associated factors in HIV-positive new mothers. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 607 systematically recruited HIV-positive new mothers in 48 primary health care clinics in Nkangala district, Northeastern South Africa. Overall, 79.1% of women (n=480) reported to have disclosed their HIV status. In multivariate logistic regression, living and parenting arrangements like having an older infant, being married or cohabitating, having planned the pregnancy, knowledge of the HIV positive status of the partner, and having attended a support group were found to be associated with HIV disclosure. Maternal and in fact care statuses like health facility delivery, having the infant tested for HIV, the infant tested not positive for HIV, having been diagnosed with HIV for two or more years, and higher HIV knowledge, also predicted HIV disclosure. The identified predictors of HIV disclosure can inform HIV intervention programmes.