TITLE:
Depression, Internalized HIV Stigma and HIV Disclosure
AUTHORS:
Elialilia S. Okello, Glenn J. Wagner, Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar, Jeffrey Garnett, Dickens Akena, Noeline Nakasujja, Seggane Musisi
KEYWORDS:
Depression, Internalized HIV Stigma, HIV Disclosure
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.5 No.1,
March
25,
2015
ABSTRACT: Purpose: There is extensive evidence
regarding the relationship between HIV related stigma and disclosure; however,
the influence of depression in this relationship is not well understood, and
thus is the focus of our analysis. Methods: Baseline data from a prospective
longitudinal cohort of 798 HIV patients starting ART in Kampala, Uganda were
examined. A staged-approach regression analysis was used to examine variables
associated with HIV disclosure to most people (general disclosure) and
disclosure to primary sex partner. Internalized HIV stigma plus demographic and
background covariates were first entered into the model; the binary indicator
of clinical depression was added on step two, followed by the addition of the
interaction of stigma and depression in step three. Separate analyses were
conducted for each of the two disclosure outcomes. Results: 39% indicated that
they kept their HIV status as a secret from most people, while 19% of
respondents with a regular sex partner had not disclosed their HIV status to
the partner. In bivariate analysis, respondents who preferred to keep their HIV
status as a secret from most people had higher internalized HIV stigma (p