Older People Living with HIV/AIDS (OPLWHA) in Lomẻ, Togo: Personal Networks and Disclosure of Serostatus

• Published in: Ageing international 2013-09, Vol.38 (3), p.218-232
• Main Author: Moore, Ami R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aging; Social Sciences
• ISSN: 0163-5158; 1936-606X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12126-012-9158-z

Purpose Increase in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who are on antiretroviral treatments in low-income countries has led to a rise in the population of older people living with HIV/AIDS (OPLWHA). This study uses a mixed methods approach to examine the personal network of OPLWHA and disclosure of their positive serostatus in Lomé, Togo. Design and Methods Data were collected on 49 OPLWHA through an egocentric model and in-depth interviews. Five name generators were used to gather information on personal networks of the OPLWHA and disclosure. Results Overall, the networks of OPLWHA in Lomẻ are small. The size of the network of people from whom OPLWHA could borrow an important sum of money was extremely low (0.55). Also, there was a variation in disclosure rates by network types. Furthermore, three major themes related to reasons for non-disclosure of positive serostatus emerged from the data: fear of consequences of disclosure, protection of loved ones, and not knowing how to disclose. Implications The OPLWHA in our study have less support to tap into, especially economic support. Policy makers should bear in mind the precarious situation of OPLWHA in order to develop programs that will aid OPLWHA. Furthermore, service providers should be aware of the fact that some female OPLWHA do not know how to disclose their seorstatus to potential intimate partners and thus teach women who wish to be sexually active ways to disclose their HIV positive status, because sexuality is beneficial for the physical and emotional well-being of older people.