Fear of partners' and parents' reaction was an obstacle to contraceptive use expressed by many participants.
A recent study conducted in Ghana has suggested that women who reported physical, psychological and sexual violence were more likely to have suicidal thoughts, sleep deprivation and fear of partners or husbands [ 21].
The major barriers for acceptance of provider-initiated HIV testing and counseling were fear of partners reaction for HIV test (31.4%), was not ready for HIV test (14.3%), need for partners consent (10%), afraid to know if they were HIV-positive and not being sure of the confidentiality of the test (8.6%).
"This is what people fear," said an associate at another law firm, speaking generally and anonymously out of fear of partner retribution.
Fear of partner reaction could include fear of reaction to the suggestion of testing and what that suggestion might imply, as well as fear of partner reaction to a positive test result.
Integrating CVCT services within existing programs can help normalize couples' testing, facilitate the reduction of stigma, overcome fear of partner reactions, and increase favorable attitudes toward CVCT.
In Africa, published disclosure rates to a sexual partner among HIV-infected individuals range from 16 79%, with lower rates of disclosure by women, largely due to fear of partner reaction [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26].
Younger study participants were significantly (p<0.05) more likely to report knowing that serodiscordance is possible between couples, having heard about CVCT from a friend, citing stigma and fear of partner reaction as reasons preventing couples from getting tested together, and citing prevention of vertical transmission and planning for the family's future as reason to seek CVCT.
Barriers to testing include a lack of spousal support, fear of partner violence, and fear of disclosure and the stigma that may accompany it.
[Woman #20, 31 years old, partner status unknown] Several participants did not disclose based on fear of partner response or beliefs about the partner's positive status.
However, many individuals never disclose their HIV status to their partners [ 29] for fear of partner violence, stigma, and loss of economic support, among other reasons [ 29].
