Stigma and Discrimination Towards People Living with HIV: Sociocultural Aspects, Experiences, and Ethical and Legal Responses in Colombia

Author(s):  
Chantal Aristizábal-Tobler
Author(s):  
Hema Malini

Community-level stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV is found all over the world, with people forced to leave their home, change their daily activities such as shopping, socializing or schooling, face rejection and verbal and physical abuse. The objective of the study was to assess the HIV/AIDS stigma among the general public. Quantitative approach  and descriptive research design was adopted for the  present study. The study was conducted in Vallancherry a selected rural village of Kattankulathur . The sample size for the present study was 300. Three point rating scale  was used to assess the HIV/STIGMA and discrimination.The present study findings revealed that among 300 samples none of them reported severe stigma ,50 (16.7%)  participants reported moderate stigma and 250 (83.3%)  participants reported  low stigma. Stigma blocks access to HIV testing and treatment services, making onwards transmission more likely. The removal of barriers to these services is key to end the global HIV epidemic.Key Words : HIV, AIDS, Stigma, Discrimination, Rejection


Author(s):  
Godwin Aondohemba Timiun ◽  
Timothy J. Scrase

In spite the identification of stigma as a factor impeding public utilisation of HIV counselling, testing, and treatment services in Nigeria, gaps still exist in knowledge on the impact of stigma, and discrimination on adherence to medication amongst people living with HIV (PLWH). This study adopted mixed methods to examine the impact of stigma and discrimination on adherence to medication amongst PLWH in Nigeria.  A sample of 1,621 respondents was collected using multi-stage and purposive sampling methods. Structured interviews using questionnaires and in-depth interviews (using a guide) were utilised for data collection. SPSS (version 21) was used for quantitative data analysis while the qualitative data was analysed thematically. There are 46.3% men and 53.7% women respondents. Generally, their income is low, 70.7% are earning less than N25, 000 (approximately $125 USD) per month. Some of the HIV patients are stigmatised. In reaction, they avoid public places, travel long distances away from their immediate community to collect drugs and to avoid been noticed around the centers. They sometimes miss taking drugs regularly as prescribed, suffer depression and die. Stigma and discrimination impede adherence to medication amongst PLHW in Nigeria. More efforts should be made to create awareness to reduce stigma and discrimination of HIV patients, while augmenting their income to meet up with the challenges of adherence to medication. The overall benefits would be enhanced mechanism of HIV prevention, treatment and control in the study area.


Author(s):  
А.А. Khryanin ◽  
◽  
O.V. Reshetnikov ◽  
V.K. Bocharova ◽  
Т.А. Shpiks ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mervyn Turton ◽  
Sudeshni Naidoo

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the oral health care experiences of people living with HIV in Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) and the Western Cape (WC) and also to identify the role of stigma and discrimination in the oral health care experiences for people living with HIV in KZN and the WC. Design/methodology/approach – This study was a survey among HIV-positive people attending selected Community Health Centres and regional hospitals, HIV clinics in KZN and WC provinces in South Africa. The sample consisted of people living with HIV that were 18 years or older and who had given written, informed consent. A cross-sectional study structure has been employed using a standardized format using a semi-structured interview and an administered questionnaire to collect data. The study classified participants as living in metropolitan or non-metropolitan areas. Findings – Apprehension of loss of confidentiality, stigma and discrimination were the barriers that deterred participants from seeking care. Respondents stated that they feared what the dentist and staff would think of them being HIV positive and feared being discriminated against by the dentist and staff. In some instances there appears to be a difference between policy and practice regarding the oral health care needs of and services rendered to people living with HIV in public health facilities as there are still patients who do not obtain care and for whom the attitudes of the health care provider constitutes the major barrier to accessing that care. Research limitations/implications – The results are specific to KZN and WC and have to be extrapolated with caution to the rest of South Africa. Additionally, this study did not have a control group of HIV-negative people which would have enabled one to determine whether certain barriers were unique to people living with HIV. Practical implications – To make recommendations with respect to addressing the issue of stigma and discrimination in the oral health care experiences for people living with HIV in KZN and the WC as there is a definite need for the government to address the resource needs of rural areas and less developed areas of South Africa. Health care is a much-needed resource in these high prevalence areas and governments must ensure that all their HIV/AIDS projects and policies should have a rural component built into them. Social implications – This study emphasizes the importance of embracing people that are being discriminated and marginalized by society such as people living with HIV to ensure that they feel a franchised member of society who can take the initiative to be in control of their own health and, with the necessary aid from public resources and societal support, join forces to reduce the public health burden and its impact on the socio-economic milieu. Originality/value – To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no other study that has compared differences in the use of oral health care services by people with HIV in South Africa and these results serve as an indication of some the important issues in this regard.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-217
Author(s):  
Endah Tri Suryani

The spread of HIV and AIDS in Indonesia over the last five years is quite high. United NationsAIDS (UNAIDS) even dub Indonesia as an Asia’s country with most spread of HIV/AIDS. However thefear of stigma and discrimination against PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) remains a majorobstacle. The purpose of this research was to describe self stigma of HIV/AIDS in poly Cendana NgudiWaluyo Hospital Wlingi based questionnaire ISMI (Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness) that includeda portrait of alienation, acceptance of stereotypes, experience of discrimination, social withdrawal,and rejection of stigma. The samples were 27 people with HIV/AIDS. The results showed that generallyself stigma of HIV/AIDS were low 44.4% (12 patients). This result, indicated that the motivation ofpeople living with HIV/AIDS as well as their moral support was instrumental in lowering self-stigma.Recommendations from this study were expected for health care to prevent and overcome self stigma ofHIV/AIDS.


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