Disclosure of HIV status is a family matter: field notes from China

This study examines the role that family plays in disclosure of HIV-AIDS in China. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 individuals living with HIV-AIDS infected through different routes. The vast majority of participants were between the ages of 20 and 39 years old (93.4%) and about a third (36.7%) were women. Two primary disclosure processes, involuntary and voluntary, are described. In both processes, family members other than the patient are usually the first to know HIV status. Positive impacts of disclosure include strengthening family relations and help with medical care and counseling, whereas negative impacts include fear, isolation, avoidance, and psychological burden. This study illustrates that family is an intricate part of the disclosure process in China and demonstrates the importance of including families in HIV-AIDS interventions.