Total of 181 participants were recruited for the study and successfully interviewed. Females dominated, representing 80% of the respondents while the average age was 47 ± 12.6. Half of the respondents were urban residents while over 90% were Christians of varying denominations; more than 70% of the respondents either did not have formal education or had at most primary or secondary education. Out of the 44% of respondents who were employed, 40% were in private business employment with an average monthly income below GHC 500 (approximately USD 44.00); 69% of them perceived themselves as poor and not having enough in terms of their economic status (see Table 1).

A little over 42% of respondents were in a  relationship and living with the partner. Over 90% of the respondents had at least a child with the average number of children per respondent being 3 ± 1.67. Approximately 83% of the respondents indicated none of their children was HIV positive; 42% of the respondents indicated their partner did not test positive for HIV and those whose partners were HIV positive, nearly 91% of them were on ART (see Table 1).

Approximately 50% indicated they have not disclosed their HIV status to their partner while 50% of them said they did. Among respondents who did self-disclosure of their status, nearly 65% of them disclosed to non-family members followed by a partner (50%) and a sibling (29%). The least category of persons disclosures were made to are father (1.1%); aunt/uncle (3.3%); unspecific persons (5.5%); mother (17%), and children (18%) (see Fig. 1).

Key outcome variables of interest (HIV status self-disclosure)

Significant association was found between HIV status disclosure to a partner and socio-demographic factors such as sex (p = 0.046) and marital status (p = 0.000). Other significant correlates are: being in private business (p = 0.022) and divorced due to HIV (p = 0.000). HIV status self-disclosure to other persons other than the partner was significantly correlated with monthly income (p = 0.022), being employed (p = 0.027), being divorced due to HIV (p = 0.017) and being knowledgeable of ART drugs side effects (p = 0.044) (see Table 2).

HIV status disclosure to a partner was more likely to occur among married persons (Coef. = 1.25, p < 0.001, [95% CI 0.74, 1.76]), but not with non-partners (Coef. = −0.56, p < 0.001, [95% CI −0.044, 0−0.076]) (see Table 3).

Persons in lower income brackets were less likely to disclose their HIV status to their partners than those who earn higher monthly incomes (Coef. = −0.45, p < 0.01, [95% CI −0.93, 0.035]) (see Table 3). Higher monthly income earners were more likely to disclose their HIV status to others (non-partners) than low-income earners (Coef. = 0.51, p < 0.005, [95% CI 0.011, 1.00]) (see Table 3).

Persons engaged in private businesses were more likely to disclose their HIV status to their partners than other forms of employment endeavours (Coef. = 0.43, p < 0.005, [95% CI 0.012, 0.84). Persons who were employed were more likely to disclose their HIV status to others (non-partners) than the unemployed (Coef. = 0.43, p < 0.01, [95% CI −0.014, 0.88]) (see Table 3). Finally, persons who were divorced due to HIV were less likely to voluntarily disclose their HIV status to partners (Coef. = −1.34, p < 0.001, [95% CI −1.77, −0.90]) but more likely to disclose their status to others (non-partners) (Coef. = 0.49, p < 0.005, [95% CI 0.06, 0.91]) (see Table 3).