Voluntary HIV Testing, Disclosure, and Stigma Among Injection Drug Users in Bali, Indonesia
- 1 December 2004
- journal article
- Published by Guilford Publications in AIDS Education and Prevention
- Vol. 16 (6) , 487-498
- https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.16.6.487.53789
Abstract
Recently, large increases have been noted in injection drug use and HIV prevalence in Indonesia. Because voluntary HIV counseling and testing can play an important role in HIV prevention, it is important to understand factors related to its use. The objective of this study was to identify factors related to the use of voluntary HIV testing among drug users. In-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of 40 drug users in the Denpasar area of Bali, Indonesia. Drug users may be interested in testing if they have enough information about AIDS to know that they are at risk and that they need this information to protect themselves and others from infection. Barriers toward testing included the fear of a positive result, fear of reactions from family and community members and stigmatization. Other obstacles include a feeling of hopelessness, problems with testing, unavailability and side effects of AIDS drugs and other factors. Many persons would not disclose their status to community members and sexual partners. There were serious concerns about others being ashamed of them and the impact of HIV on relationships with spouses and sexual partners and on employment.Keywords
This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit:
- Moving from Apprehension to Action: HIV Counseling and Testing Preferences in Three At-Risk PopulationsAIDS Education and Prevention, 2001
- Women's barriers to HIV-1 testing and disclosure: Challenges for HIV-1 voluntary counselling and testingAIDS Care, 2001
- Drug users talk about HIV testing: Motivating and deterring factorsAIDS Care, 2001
- Positive and negative life events after counselling and testing: the Voluntary HIV-1 Counselling and Testing Efficacy StudyAIDS, 2001
- Gender differences in behavioural and psychosocial predictors of HIV testing and return for test results in a high-risk populationAIDS Care, 2000
- AIDS and StigmaAmerican Behavioral Scientist, 1999
- HIV Testing Behaviors in a Population of Inner-City Women at High Risk for HIV InfectionJAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 1996
- HIV-1 antibody testing among drug users participating in AIDS educationPatient Education and Counseling, 1994