To Disclose or Not to Disclose HIV Status: The Dilemma of Religious Adherents of Tema Metropolis and Ashaiman Municipality in Ghana

摘要

HIV status disclosure rate has often been used as a proxy to measure the levels of perceived or real stigmatization of persons living with HIV/AIDS in a community. The study examined the willingness of religious adherents of the two study areas in Ghana to disclose their HIV/AIDS status in religious settings. Using hypothetical questions adherents of Orthodox, Pentecostal/Charismatic, African Independent Churches, Islam and African Traditional Religion were quizzed during periods of forenoon services to elicit the relevant information for the study. Overall, the outcome of the study indicated that more than half of the respondents in both areas were willingness to disclose HIV status especially to their religious leaders than to their respective whole congregations. Adherents of Pentecostal/Charismatic and African Independent Churches were more willing to disclose their HIV status. Female adherents as well as those with higher levels of education were also more willing to disclose their HIV status. The need for care and support, for prayers and counseling were the main motivation for disclosure while the fear of being gossiped about, isolated and blamed constituted disincentive for disclosure. To promote the level of HIV status disclosure within the religious setting there is the need for religious leaders to provide care and support for persons living with HIV/AIDS.