Winnie Mwikali Kyalo2024-08-142024-08-142024-08-14https://repo.pacuniversity.ac.ke/handle/123456789/4485Opening up about one’s HIV and AIDS status to friends and family has proven to be beneficial in the overall health of an individual. However, the process of disclosure brings an unbalance in the family as they try to adjust to this new reality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of youth HIV and AIDS disclosure on the family in the Comprehensive Care Clinic in Kenyatta National Hospital. The objectives focused on: the reasons for youth disclosure or non-disclosure to the family, to identify the family status disclosure outcomes to the youth’s HIV and AIDS status disclosure, the coping strategies implemented when status disclosure occurs, and the counselling needs that arise in the family post-disclosure. The communication privacy movement theory was used to explore how the family navigates youth’s HIV and AIDS status disclosure. The descriptive design was used in exploring the disclosure indicators, the family status disclosure outcomes, the coping strategies, and counselling needs that arose in the family post-disclosure. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were used for the descriptive research design. For the purpose of the study, the target population consisted of 9,500 youths, with a sample size of 384 respondents. The sample was determined using Cochran’s formula and purposive nonprobability sampling technique was used, where data from the youth was collected using indepth interviews and a questionnaire. The data was analysed and presented using frequency distributions, tables and charts using the SPSS version 28.1. The Spearman’s coefficient correlation was used to assess the monotonic relationship between the youth HIV and AIDS status disclosure, and the effect it had on the family variables of the study, which was calculated using SPSS 28.1. The study found that the youth were more inclined to disclosure, if they are aware that the family will love them unconditionally despite finding out their HIV and AIDS status. The study concluded that fear of rejection due to the societal worldview, and the kind of relationship the youth has with their family influenced the youth HIV and AIDS status disclosure decision. The youth emphasized that the way their family receives the news of their HIV and AIDS positive status determines how they navigate and find ways to live with this new reality. The study demonstrated that family members can play an important role in helping the youth make appropriate life decisions to make room for their positive HIV and AIDS status. It was recommended by the study that the disclosing youth and their families need to have the appropriate resources, to help address the relational issues that presented post-disclosure. The study is significant to health care providers and also to the families to holistically equip them with the necessary tools to develop healthy coping strategies post-disclosure.enThesis