Knowledge and willingness of people living with HIV/AIDS to share their health information and associated factors in ART clinics found in West Hararghe zone health facilities, Oromia region, East Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Getting full personal health information is a great challenge due to fear of stigma and discrimination in developing countries especially for those people living with HIV/AIDs. The concern for confidentiality and privacy can affect the willingness of people living with HIV/AIDS to share their health information for different bodies that may lead to poor quality of care. Clients had limited knowledge on importance of sharing their health information and ways in which these information are shared. Objective: To assess knowledge and willingness of people living with HIV/AIDS to share their health information and associated factors in ART clinics. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional quantitative study design was deployed in one hospital and three health centers selected by simple random sampling method. The information was collected through interview by using structured questionnaires. SPSS version 16 was used for both data entry and analysis. Descriptive statics and binary logistic regression were also employed. Result: The result showed that, of the total 518 respondents, only 306(59.1%) had good knowledge on sharing health information. Knowledge of the respondents on sharing health information was significantly associated with sex, duration of enrollment in the service and with some approaches of health workers. Willingness of the respondents varied based on identity of the recipients and level of anonymity. Conclusion and recommendation: Knowledge of the respondents on sharing health information was inadequate and willingness of the respondents varied based on identity of recipients. Knowledge of the respondents was significantly associated with some approaches of the health workers. So, training on communication skill need to be given for health workers and also health education for patients on importance of sharing their health information, uses of their medical records and involving patients in their treatment in order to upgrade the knowledge and willingness of the respondents on sharing their Health information that lead to quality of services.