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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Jan-Dec:17:17455065211063021.
doi: 10.1177/17455065211063021.

Disclosure of HIV seropositivity to sexual partner in Ethiopia: A systematic review

Aklilu Endalamaw  1   2 , Yibeltal Assefa  2 , Demeke Geremew  3 , Habte Belete  1   2 , Berihun Assefa Dachew  4   5 , Amare Belachew  1   6 , Worku Animaw  1 , Tesfa Dejenie Habtewold  7   8 , Rhonda Wilson  9   10
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Disclosure of HIV seropositivity to sexual partner in Ethiopia: A systematic review

Aklilu Endalamaw et al. Womens Health (Lond). 2021 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: In Ethiopia, the burden of HIV/AIDS is a public health issue that requires significant control of transmission. Once an infection has been established, determinants influence people living with HIV to disclose or not their HIV-positive status to sexual partners. This study assessed the proportion and associated factors of people living with HIV's disclosure status to sexual partners.

Methods: CRD42020149092 is the protocol's registration number in the PROSPERO database. We searched PubMed, Scopus, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar databases. For the subjective and objective assessment of publication bias, we used a funnel plot and Egger's regression test, respectively. The I2 statistic was used to assess variation across studies. Meta-analysis of weighted inverse variance random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled proportion. We conducted subgroup and sensitivity analyses to investigate the cause of heterogeneity and the impact of outliers on the overall estimation, respectively. A trend analysis was also performed to show the presence of time variation.

Results: The percentage of people living with HIV who disclosed their HIV-positive status to sexual partners was 76.03% (95% confidence interval: 68.78, 83.27). Being on antiretroviral therapy (adjusted odds ratio = 6.19; 95% confidence interval: 2.92, 9.49), cohabiting with partner (adjusted odds ratio = 4.48; 95% confidence interval: 1.24, 7.72), receiving HIV counseling (adjusted odds ratio = 3.94; 95% confidence interval: 2.08, 5.80), having discussion prior to HIV testing (adjusted odds ratio = 4.40; 95% confidence interval: 2.11, 6.69), being aware of partner's HIV status (adjusted odds ratio = 6.08; 95% confidence interval: 3.05, 9.10), positive relationship with partner (adjusted odds ratio = 4.44; 95% confidence interval:1.28, 7.61), and being member of HIV association (adjusted odds ratio = 3.70; 95% confidence interval: 2.20, 5.20) had positive association with HIV status disclosure.

Conclusion: In Ethiopia, more than one-fourth of adults living with HIV did not disclose their HIV-positive status to sexual partners. HIV-positive status disclosure was influenced by psychosocial factors. A multidimensional approach is required to increase seropositive disclosure in Ethiopia.

Keywords: Ethiopia; HIV/AIDS; disclosure; psychosocial factors; sexual partner.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA flow chart displays the article selection process.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Funnel plot shows the symmetrical distribution of the prevalence of original studies; the x-axis shows the natural logarithm of prevalence (LN of P) and standard error of prevalence (Se of P) plotted on the Y-axis.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Forest plot of the proportion (P) of HIV-positive people who disclosed HIV-positive status to their sexual partner and its 95% CI, the midpoint of each line illustrates the prevalence rate estimated in each study. The diamond shows the pooled prevalence.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Subgroup analysis based on the study participant included in the original study.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Trend analysis exhibits the proportion of HIV sero-disclosure practice from the year 2008–2019 in Ethiopia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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