Navigating HIV status disclosure
Adolescents' privacy management strategies in Rural South Africa
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21785706 |
|---|---|
| Authors | G Nduku Wambua (0000-0003-1795-6634, Africa Health Research Institute, corresponding author), Nondumiso Dlamini (0000-0002-0000-324X, Africa Health Research Institute), Syethemba Nkosi (0000-0001-9174-2525, Africa Health Research Institute), Thandeka Smith (0009-0002-4146-5376, Africa Health Research Institute), Mpilonhle Nzuza (Africa Health Research Institute), Janet Seeley (0000-0002-0583-5272, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), Alan Stein (0000-0001-8207-2822, University of Oxford), Nothando Ngwenya (0000-0002-5630-6389, Africa Health Research Institute) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 2692132-2692132 |
| Publication date | 2026-12-31 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Global Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1744-1692 • E-ISSN: 1744-1706 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/17441692.2026.2692132 |
| PMID | 42384438 |
| OpenAlex | W7166887174 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 59 |
We examined how adolescents living with HIV in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, navigate privacy boundaries in disclosure-related issues. We conducted small group discussions with 31 adolescents (aged 16-19 years) recruited from three HIV clinics. Reflexive thematic data analysis was conducted through the lens of communication privacy management theory. Three major themes emerged: (1) ownership and control of private information, in which adolescents demonstrated varying levels of autonomy over their HIV status information, often developing strategies to manage medication discreetly; (2) managing disclosure and privacy boundaries, in which participants developed nuanced privacy rules influenced by stigma, context, and family dynamics; and (3) emotional and social support in disclosure management, highlighting the significant role of support systems in the disclosure process. Overall, participants actively managed privacy boundaries through careful information control, selective disclosure, and strategic coordination with family members and healthcare providers. Our findings show that adolescents in a rural setting actively manage privacy boundaries around their HIV status through well-developed information management strategies. There is a complex interplay between personal agency, family dynamics, and cultural context in shaping disclosure decisions. These insights can provide more effective support interventions for adolescents living with HIV in resource-limited settings
Developing country · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Population · Rural area · Rural health · Rural population · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
Gender difference in the change of adolescents’ mental health and subjective wellbeing trajectories
Using thematic analysis in counselling and psychotherapy research
Stigma in the HIV/Aids epidemic
Disclosure of HIV status to children in resource‐limited settings
Thematic Analysis
Adolescent experiences, perceptions, and preferences for the process of HIV status disclosure in Kenya
Living in the shadows
Boundaries of Privacy
Understanding the mental health of adolescents and young adults in rural South Africa through participatory research
HIV serostatus disclosure and lived experiences of adolescents at the Transition Clinic of the Infectious Diseases Clinic in Kampala, Uganda
HIV Status Disclosure to Adolescents Who Are Perinatally Infected in Rustenburg Sub District Northwest Province
Influences on decision-making about disclosure of HIV status by adolescents and young adults living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
How disclosure and antiretroviral therapy help HIV-infected adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa cope with stigma
I have never talked to anyone to free my mind” – challenges surrounding status disclosure to adolescents contribute to their disengagement from HIV care
Factors influencing adolescent girls and young women’s participation in a combination HIV prevention intervention in South Africa
Barriers to Retention in Care are Overcome by Adolescent-Friendly Services for Adolescents Living with HIV in South Africa
Disclosure, Social Support, and Mental Health are Modifiable Factors Affecting Engagement in Care of Perinatally-HIV Infected Adolescents
Association of experienced and internalized stigma with self-disclosure of HIV status by youth living with HIV
Disclosure and Experiences of HIV-Related Stigma among Adolescents and Young Adults Living with HIV in South Africa
Young people’s experiences of sexual and reproductive health interventions in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
When information does not suffice
Brief Status Report on Communication Privacy Management Theory
A Practical Guide to Focus-Group Research
The impact of physical and economic abuse on maternal mental health and parenting
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Research Note
Disclosure of HIV status between parents and children in Uganda in the context of greater access to treatment
| Highly cited | No |
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