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The participants seemed to be at a lost in deciding whether and how to disclose theirstatus. The difficulties in disclosing their status could perhaps be minimized if peopleliving with HIV/AIDS can be taught how to disclose the matter to their loved ones. Oncethis is disclosed at the appropriate time, they have to bear the consequences of thisdisclosure. Perhaps, following disclosure, their mental health would be better.RelationshipsThe effect of being a person living with HIV/AIDS does affect one’s relationships, be itwith family members, relatives or friends. Some do not want to further burden thefamily, and thus has to leave home and be on their own. Some who have been out forsometime crave for family love and relationship.“My father speaks to me like that. Because HIV doesn’t die faster thandrugs. I don’t want to see you smoke. See you smoking drug every,everyday and then you turn yourself into a ghost. At least, HIV there isstill lot of prevention. I still can support lah what kind of good food andwhat kind of good health you want. I support you, I don’t mind but Icannot support you on drug. So, at last, I don’t want to put my family intoso much trouble. I left the town and I stay on my own”(Male, 49yrs, University education, DU)“Dengan keluarga, saya permulaan dulu, memang saya dah tahu sayaada HIV dan saya penagih tapi keluarga saya tak tahu saya ada HIV.Jadi, saya penagih. Tapi, keluarga saya tak tahu saya ada HIV. Jadi,saya melari, melarikan diri daripada dia, selama hamper 10 tahun. Sayatidak berhubung dengan dia, saya tak nak dia. Bermasalah saya denganmasyarakat. Saya punya jiran semua, tak nak dia…ada masalah.Disebabkan oleh saya seorang penagih dan saya pembawa HIV, sayakeluar daripada keluarga saya”(“With my family, I at the very beginning, really, I know that I have HIVand i’m a drug addict. But my family doesn’t know that I have HIV. So iran away, ran away from my family, for almost 10 years. I didn’t contactthem, I don’t want them. I’m having problem with the society. All myneighbours, (I) don’t want them...have problems. Because of me as a drugaddict and a HIV carrier, I come out from my family”)(Male, 32yrs, Lower secondary education, DU)“My family didn’t like that I have HIV. Because I think I fail myself, sad.And also my family members may not accept me, they try to avoid everypart of my life when I was at home. Many scare to use knives and spoons,plates and spoons. So, I just don’t want to bluff them anymore”(Male, 51yrs, Lower secondary education, DU)“Ok, I’m a Muslim. But since I got to know that I have this disease, mylife change, totally change. My relationship with friends, with familytotally out. Ok, they people can say they care but in actual fact, they arenot. Especially those who have more knowledge about HIV/AIDS. So, Ifeel now I am out of the family. Even sekarang ni I rasa hidup I susah,53