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Men who have sex with men living with HIV (MSM-LWH) experience psychological and social issues, including depression, anxiety, fear of infecting others, frustration, and social isolation. They may also experience problems in their relationships due to a fear of social stigma, such as marital issues, family conflicts, a lack of family support, economic difficulties, and social rejection by the family. This research aimed to assess the relationship between HIV status disclosure and stress in MSM-LWH in Medan, Indonesia. Here, a cross-sectional design and the convenience sampling technique were used. A total of 176 respondents who were MSM, HIV positive, and residents of Medan City were included in this work. Data were collected by means of HIV Status Disclosure questionnaires and a Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Overall, 70.9% respondents reported disclosing their status to others and approximately half revealed experiencing stress. Moreover, HIV status disclosure was significantly associated with stress (p= 0.025). This study reveals that HIV status disclosure may result in negative effects on MSMLWH, represent a barrier to medical treatment, and increase internal stress. |
