Exploring a Digital HIV Onward Disclosure Intervention, in People Living With HIV of Sub-Saharan African Ethnicity.

Research has shown that people living with HIV struggle to disclose their HIV status to others, (a process known as self-disclosure or onward disclosure) due to associated challenges, including fear of discrimination from others. However, there are a range of potentially positive outcomes associated with self-disclosure, such as increased medication adherence, improved wellbeing, and greater social support. Consequently, people living with HIV should be adequately supported, if they wish to disclose. This study intends to develop and assess a digital HIV disclosure intervention, based on an existing non-digital intervention, for Sub-Saharan African adults, living with HIV and residing in the U.K. Participants will be followed pre, during and post intervention, with various measures being collected throughout, including HIV disclosure behaviour, HIV disclosure intention, HIV disclosure motivation, general wellbeing and mood. Upon follow up, participants will also be asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their personal experiences of this digital intervention. It is hypothesised that this digital HIV self disclosure intervention may lead to increases in HIV disclosure intention, amongst other secondary variables. Statistical and visual analysis will allow outcomes of this intervention to be summarised and will hopefully lead to implications and suggestions for future digital HIV disclosure interventions, supporting those living with HIV to manage the self-disclosure process effectively.