The effects of disclosure/non-disclosure on the well-being of HIV-positive pregnant African women in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the experiences of HIV-positive pregnant African women in the province of Gauteng, South Africa, and the perceived effect of their HIV-positive status disclosure/non-disclosure on well-being. Data were gathered through in-depth semi-structured interviews and were analysed according to the interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology. The findings of this study showed that in most cases disclosure was made to the male partner and female family members. The main reasons for disclosure to a partner were honesty and to allow the partner to make informed health decisions. The reasons for disclosure to family members were motivated by the need for support. Appropriate support provided by the family, or a partner, had a positive effect on a woman’s well-being. Women who did not disclose their status felt increased levels of anxiety due to the possibility of unintentional disclosure. Well-being was defined by participants and included physical well-being and happiness.

Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuhlola okubandakanya okwabesifazane base-Afrika abakhulelwe abane sandulela nculazi esifundazweni sase-Gauteng, eNingizimu Afrika, kanye nomphumela ocatshangwayo wokudalulwa/nokungavezi isimo sabo sokuba ne- sandulela nculazi enhlalakahleni. Ulwazi yaqoqwa ngezingxoxiswano ezijulile ezihlelwe nokwe nxenye futhi yahlaziywa ngokuvumelana nendlela yokuhlaziya ye-phenomenological. Okutholwe kulolu cwaningo kubonise ukuthi ezimweni eziningi abasefazane badalule kumlingani wesilisa kanye namalungu omndeni wabo. Izizathu eziyinhloso zokudalula kumlingani kwakuwukwethembeka kanye nokuvumela umlingani ukuthi enze izinqumo zezempilo enolwazi. Izizathu zokudalula kumalunga omndeni zazigqugquzelwa isidingo sokusekelwa. Ukusekelwa okufanele okunikezwa umndeni, noma umlingani, kwaba nomphumela omuhle enhlalakahleni yowesifazane. Abesifazane abangasidalulanga isimo sabo bazizwe benyukelwa amazinga okukhathazeka ngenxa yokuthi kungenzeka badalule bengahlosile. Abahlanganyeli ocwaningweni, noma engxoxweni, banikeza ezabo izincazelo ezisho ukuthi inhlalakahle yayihlanganisa ukuphila kahle ngokomzimba nenjabulo.

Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om die ervarings van MIV-positiewe swanger Afrika-vroue in die provinsie Gauteng, Suid-Afrika, en die waargenome effek van hul MIV-positiewe status openbaarmaking/nie-openbaarmaking, oor hulle welstand. Data is ingesamel deur in-diepte semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude, en is volgens die interpretatiewe fenomenologiese analise metodologie ontleed. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie, het getoon dat in die meeste gevalle openbaarmaking gemaak is aan die manlike lewensmaat en vroulike familielede. Die hoof redes vir openbaarmaking aan 'n vennoot was eerlikheid, en om die vennoot toe te laat om ingeligte gesondheidsbesluite te maak. Die redes vir bekendmaking aan familielede was gemotiveer deur die behoefte aan ondersteuning. Toepaslike ondersteuning verskaf deur die gesin, of 'n lewensmaat, het 'n positiewe uitwerking op 'n vrou se welstand gehad. Vroue wat nie hul status bekend gemaak het nie, voel verhoogde vlakke van angs as gevolg van die moontlikheid van onbedoelde openbaarmaking. Welstand is deur deelnemers gedefinieer, en het fisiese welstand en geluk ingesluit.