The role of the family in HIV status disclosure among women in Vietnam: Familial dependence and independence

Health Care Women Int. 2018 Apr;39(4):415-428. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2017.1358723. Epub 2017 Oct 18.

Abstract

Insights into disclosure by people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) can inform strategies for treatment and support, yet Vietnamese women's self-disclosure patterns are poorly understood. We conducted interviews with 12 HIV-positive women, identifying three principal factors influencing disclosure to family members: patrilocal residence, desire to protect own family, and the need for financial support. Women's decision-making about disclosure was significantly affected by dependence on or independence of parents-in-law and their own parents. We believe that our findings reveal the complex interplay of stigma and disclosure within Vietnamese families, highlighting the need for specific social measures that promote self-disclosure combined with family support for female PLWHA.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Decision Making
  • Family / psychology*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • HIV Seropositivity / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Parents
  • Qualitative Research
  • Self Disclosure*
  • Social Stigma*
  • Social Support*
  • Truth Disclosure*
  • Vietnam