Disclosure of Serostatus Among Youth Living with HIV

Disclosure of serostatus and predictors of disclosure were examined among youth living with HIV (YLH). Disclosure patterns, sociodemographic characteristics, sexual and substance-use risk history, and current health status were examined among 350 youth living with HIV aged 13–23 years (27% African-American, 38% Latino; 72% male) who had AIDS (n = 35), were symptomatic (n = 108), or asymptomatic (n = 201). Most youth disclosed their serostatus to family (87%); unexpectedly, young men (93%) were more likely to disclose to friends than were young women (79%). Being younger at diagnosis was significantly associated with disclosure to family; young men disclosed more often to friends. Most youth disclosed to all their sexual partners (69%); higher rates of disclosure to sexual partners were associated with having fewer partners and being African-American. Condom use was significantly associated with disclosure for young women, and tended to be related for young men. Although many YLH disclose their serostatus to their partners, condom use is not increased. Interventions are needed to increase condom use among YLH, as well as to encourage disclosure to partners by the 30% of YLH who do not disclose.