Disclosure of HIV Status means telling someone that you are HIV+, while you may receive love and support from some of the people you disclosed, others may not be accepting. Try to find someone who can support you through this difficult situation. If you have not told any family yet, turn to your health care provider, social worker, counsellor at Care Support Centre or at ART Centre.
Disclosing your HIV status will also have an effect on the people you tell. Your friends and family may immediately embrace you and accept your diagnosis. Others may react negatively or need some time to process what you have told them.
You do not have to tell everyone that you are HIV+. However, it is important that you tell your current and past sexual partners and anyone you have shared needles with to inject drugs. In this way they can be tested and seek medical attention if required. If you are afraid to tell them, health service provider in your area can notify your sexual or needle-sharing partners without even using your name.
You also need to tell your health care providers to ensure that you receive appropriate care. Your health care provider may ask how you were infected to determine if you are at risk from other diseases, such as hepatitis C for injection drug users and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) for women infected through sex.
If you are in a serious relationship, telling your partner is one of the first things you will probably think about. Many turn to their partners for comfort and support. However, some people may worry that they will lose their partner’s love when they disclose. It’s normal to feel nervous, uncomfortable, or even fearful of your partner’s reaction.
Disclosing your HIV status can put a strain on the best relationships. It’s important for you to think about when and how to disclose, but keeping the information to yourself for too long is probably not a good, find professional counsellor and get support.
Be aware that women are at risk for violence when disclosing their HIV status. If you are worried that your partner may become violent, think about having the discussion with another person you trust such as a therapist, an HIV advocate, or a health care professional.
In most cases, sharing your HIV status is a personal choice, but in the case of sexual relationships, it can be a legal requirement. It is best if you disclose your status prior to have sexual relation with anyone.
Non- disclosure of HIV status in a sexual relationship can lead to a criminal, the law requires that you disclose your HIV status before knowingly exposing or transmitting HIV to someone else. You can be found guilty of an offence for not telling a sexual partner that you are HIV+ before having intimate contact.
Women often choose to disclose their status to their close friends and family members whom they trust and thus they received both emotional and practical support.
There are many reasons to tell people that you have HIV by getting support from family and friends, at the time of diagnosis and in the future, fostering a sense of closeness with friends and loved ones, reducing the risk of HIV transmission to others, not having to live with the stress of keeping HIV a secret, ensuring that you get the most appropriate care and treatment from your health care providers. Disclosing can feel empowering.
Disclosure is a process, so it may take several conversations. To make the disclosure process as open as possible in a safe and secure place that provides privacy, yet offers comfort and familiarity. Tell your spouse or partner that you have some important news to share. Be prepared to talk about your diagnosis in a clear way and provide basic information about what it means to live with HIV, explain that HIV can be contracted during unprotected sex and provide your partner with information about HIV testing and where he or she can get tested. Disclosure is necessary to protect the health of the spouse or sexual partner; also it will prevent the spread of HIV. The Partner Counselling and Referral Service can help you with notifying your partner.
Living with a secret, such as HIV, can be more emotionally harmful than the rejection that could result from disclosure. Many people who have kept a secret for a long time feel a sense of relief after disclosing their status.
However, disclosing your HIV status can also have downsides. Think carefully whom to disclose. Remember that once you disclose, you cannot take it back. Visit to your nearest Vihaan Care & Support Centre & Help Desk at Kohima, Dimapur, Kiphire, Tuensang Mokokchung , Peren, Wokha, Phek & Zunheboto and get support and guide from Counsellor, Peer Counsellor and Outreach Workers through the disclosure & partner testing.
Compiled by;
Shanpanthung Ezung
Programme Officer,
Vihaan Programme (NNP+)
Nagaland State
