Predictors Associated With HIV Status Non-Disclosure in Korea

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disclosure provides personal support to people living with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (PLWH). In addition, it has important implications for disease prevention and treatment. Research on disclosure has been conducted worldwide; however, data from South Korea are insufficient. The purpose of this study was to examine whether certain demographic, medical, and psychosocial factors act as predictors of HIV serostatus non-disclosure among PLWH in South Korea.

Participants consisted of 147 PLWH who visited the outpatient infection clinic between June 2020 and January 2021. Demographics, medical factors, HIV-related stigma, and depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured.

The overall disclosure rate among participants was 61.2%. Logistic regression analysis showed that lower depression (odds ratio [OR], 0.918; P = 0.021) and higher disclosure concerns (OR, 1.133; P = 0.004) were significant predictors of non-disclosure. Further, married state was a major predictor of non-disclosure when single referred (OR, 3.002; P = 0.024); however, divorce, separation, and widowed status had no significant consequences.

In South Korea, the rate of HIV disclosure is lower than in other countries. The higher disclosure concerns, lower depression and married state were suggested to be important predictors of HIV non-disclosure. High level of perceived stigma and experienced discrimination of PLWH may have affected the results. The social atmosphere linking sexual promiscuity and disease may also have influenced these results. Nationwide efforts should continue to reduce the overall stigma and create a social environment where PLWH can feel safe to disclose their disease conditions.