Stigmatization and Discrimination toward People Living with HIV/AIDS in a Coastal City of South India. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, Nithin; Unnikrishnan, Bhaskaran; Thapar, Rekha; Mithra, Prasanna; Kulkarni, Vaman; Holla, Ramesh; Bhagawan, Darshan; Kumar, Avinash
• Is Part Of: Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. Volume 16:Number 3(2017:May/Jun.)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 232
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: HIV/AIDS -- stigma -- discrimination -- health care -- South India; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; 616.9792
• DOI: 10.1177/2325957415569309
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2325-9574

Abstract

Background: The HIV/AIDS scenario all over the world is complicated by the stigmatic and discriminative attitudes toward the HIV-infected individuals. Methodology: In this facility-based, cross-sectional study, 104 HIV-positive patients were assessed regarding their personal experience with HIV-related stigma and discrimination using a Revised HIV Stigma Scale. The association between stigma and factors such as socioeconomic status and gender was tested using chi-square test, and P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A large proportion (41.3%) of the participants were in the age-group of 26 to 35 years. Confidentiality of the HIV positivity status was maintained only in 14.4% of the participants. Compared to females (48.2%), more than half (51.5%) of the male participants had experienced HIV/AIDS-related personalized stigma ( P > .05). Conclusion: HIV-related stigma and discrimination are the major social determinants driving the epidemic, despite the advances in medical treatment and increases in the awareness about the disease.