HIV Prevention with Positives and Disclosure of HIV Status: Practice and Views of Thai Healthcare Providers
Sakchai Chaiyamahapurk MD*, Supasit Pannarunothai MD, PhD**, Tawesak Nopkesorn MD**
Affiliation : * Health Systems and Policy, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand ** Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
Objective : The present study provides information from health care providers about sexual practices of, and preventive and
disclosure counseling for People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA).
Material and Method: A survey of health care providers attending HIV prevention workshops was undertaken using self-
administered and anonymous questionnaires.
Results : Of 678 respondents, 72% were nurses. Ninety-six percent agreed that they had duty to provide prevention services
and measures. However, less than half (46%) had enough time for counseling. Asking health providers to estimate different
aspects of sexual practice in their patients, the highest chosen band estimation was ‘unsafe sex’ (21-40%), ‘partner disclosure’
(41-60%) and ‘abstinence’ (0-10%). When patients did not disclose their HIV status to partner, most health care providers
kept HIV serostatus of patient confidential from their sexual partners. The main reasons for not notifying were patients’ rights
and fear of adverse effects on patients. Some (9%) did notify the patient’s partner directly or indirectly. The main notification
reasons were for preventing HIV transmission and recognizing the partner’s right to be informed. Seventy percent agreed that
a law should require disclosure of HIV status to husband, wife, or intimate partner.
Conclusion : Health care providers supported the ‘Prevention with Positives’ strategy. HIV status disclosure is a continuing
ethical dilemma since there are conflicts of principle between confidentiality of patients and right to healthy life of their partner.
Improved or new interventions are needed to prevent HIV transmission with consideration of both rights of PLWHA and of
HIV risk reduction for sexual partner.
Keywords : HIV, Prevention, Disclosure, Counseling
