This review paper synthesizes the current information available on HIV status disclosure in terms of rates barriers and outcomes of HIV status disclosure among HIV-infected individuals. Particular emphasis is placed on women's experiences with disclosure to sexual partners. The report also aims to identify major barriers and describe programmatic and policy strategies that have been adopted to address these barriers and support women through the disclosure process.

As the HIV epidemic enters its third decade, it remains one of the most pressing health issues of our time. Many aspects of the disease remain under-researched and inadequate attention has been given to the implications for the relationships and daily lives of those affected by HIV. Disclosing an HIV diagnosis remains a decision process fraught with difficulty and despite encouraging medical advances, an HIV diagnosis creates significant anxiety and distress about one's health, self-identity, and close relationships. This book provides an overarching view of existing research on privacy and disclosure while bringing together two significant areas: self-disclosure as a communication process and the social/relational consequences of HIV/AIDS. The unifying framework is communication privacy management and the focus of this volume is on private voluntary relational disclosure as opposed to forced or public disclosure. Utilizing numerous interviews with HIV patients and their families, the authors examine disclosure in a variety of social contexts, including relationships with intimate partners, families, friends, health workers, and coworkers. Of note are the examinations of predictors of willingness to disclose HIV infection, the message features of disclosure, and the consequences of both disclosure and non-disclosure. This volume, with its personal exercises and sources of additional information, offers an invaluable resource for individuals living with HIV and their significant others, as well as for professionals in the fields of health communication, social and health psychology, family therapy, clinical and counseling psychology, relationship research, infectious disease, and social service.

Telling one's HIV test result to others is a public health goal in HIV/AIDS prevention. It helps to engage in preventive behaviors and to access the necessary support for coping with serostatus or illness. It may motivate sexual partners to seek testing, change behavior and ultimately decrease transmission of HIV. Nonetheless the reality is that many HIV positive individuals do not disclose their results to their partners, families and social networks. The secrecy towards HIV results has contributed to the widespread stigmatization of HIV infection and continued spread of infection. As the global fight to HIV/AIDS progresses the importance of HIV disclosure is becoming more important. The book explored HIV positive status disclosure rate, the rezones behind non-disclosure of HIV positive results, and the outcomes of HIV status disclosure and identifies the role of gender in HIV results secrecy. Multilateral organizations, program planners', policy makers and researchers in academic institutions are the intended beneficiaries of the book.

he starting point for this guideline is the point at which a woman has learnt that she is living with HIV and it therefore covers key issues for providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights-related services and support for women living with HIV. As women living with HIV face unique challenges and human rights violations related to their sexuality and reproduction within their families and communities as well as from the health-care institutions where they seek care particular emphasis is placed on the creation of an enabling environment to support more effective health interventions and better health outcomes. This guideline is meant to help countries to more effectively and efficiently plan develop and monitor programmes and services that promote gender equality and human rights and hence are more acceptable and appropriate for women living with HIV taking into account the national and local epidemiological context. It discusses implementation issues that health interventions and service delivery must address to achieve gender equality and support human rights.

With increasing efficacy of antiretroviral therapy, HIV/AIDS has shifted from a disease with high mortality to a chronic illness with substantial longevity. However, researchers, physicians and social workers still face many challenges, and it is important to raise awareness on several aspects that people living with HIV/AIDS have to deal in their daily lives. This book has assembled an array of chapters on the medical, social and economic aspects of HIV/AIDS. The chapters were written by experts from around the globe reflecting the importance of the topic. This book will be of great interest not only to graduate students but also to active academics and practitioners.