Author(s)

Joshua HK. Banda

Affiliation(s)

Apex Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia.

Corresponding Author

Joshua HK. Banda

ABSTRACT

Confidentiality is a fundamental element of health care that underpins the trust necessary for effective patient-provider relationships, particularly in sensitive areas such as HIV care. HIV, as a chronic and stigmatized disease, requires a particularly high level of confidentiality to ensure that people feel safe seeking care, disclosing their status, and adhering to treatment protocols. This study examines the broad and far-reaching impact of confidentiality breaches on HIV-seeking behavior, with an emphasis on the psychological, social, and public health consequences. A breach of confidentiality can significantly damage trust between patients and health care providers, leading to feelings of betrayal, anxiety, and fear. These emotional responses, in turn, can prevent people from seeking timely HIV care, disclosing their HIV status to health care providers or loved ones, and adhering to prescribed treatment regimens. The study is based on a comprehensive review of quantitative and qualitative data, including personal stories from people living with HIV, testimony from health professionals, and perspectives from advocacy organizations. These data highlight how breaches of confidentiality in HIV care settings contribute to patient stigma and exacerbate psychological distress. The study also explores the social consequences of offending, where individuals face the risk of isolation, rejection, and discrimination from family, friends, and broader social networks. Fear of these social consequences often leads individuals to avoid or delay care, contributing to poorer health outcomes and increased isolation.

From a public health perspective, breaches of confidentiality can have serious consequences. It can undermine efforts to control the spread of HIV by discouraging at-risk populations from accessing prevention measures, such as testing, counseling, and antiretroviral therapy. This reluctance to engage with health services can lead to delayed diagnosis, untreated infections, and increased transmission rates. The study highlights the need for strong privacy protections and the implementation of clear, binding privacy policies that promote trust in health systems. It also calls for the integration of comprehensive ethics training for health care providers to equip them with the skills and knowledge to handle sensitive information appropriately and professionally.

The findings emphasize that strong privacy safeguards are essential not only to protect individual privacy, but also to ensure the success of public health initiatives aimed at controlling HIV transmission. Policies that prioritize confidentiality and protect patients' rights to privacy are essential to maintaining trust, improving care-seeking behavior, and ultimately improving public health outcomes.

KEYWORDS

Confidentiality violations; HIV care-seeking behavior; Psychological impact & Public health implications

CITE THIS PAPER

Joshua HK. Banda. The consequential impact of confidentiality violations on HIV care-seeking behavior: analyzing psychological, social, and public health implications. Psychology, Health, and Behavioral Sciences. 2025, 2(1): 9-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/phbs3005.

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