IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v68y2009i12p2279-2287.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A comparison of HIV/AIDS-related stigma in four countries: Negative attitudes and perceived acts of discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS

Author

Listed:
  • Genberg, Becky L.
  • Hlavka, Zdenek
  • Konda, Kelika A.
  • Maman, Suzanne
  • Chariyalertsak, Suwat
  • Chingono, Alfred
  • Mbwambo, Jessie
  • Modiba, Precious
  • Van Rooyen, Heidi
  • Celentano, David D.

Abstract

HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination have a substantial impact on people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the associations of two constructs of HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination (negative attitudes towards PLHA and perceived acts of discrimination towards PLHA) with previous history of HIV testing, knowledge of antiretroviral therapies (ARVs) and communication regarding HIV/AIDS and (2) to compare these two constructs across the five research sites with respect to differing levels of HIV prevalence and ARV coverage, using data presented from the baseline survey of U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Project Accept, a four-country HIV prevention trial in Sub-Saharan Africa (Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa) and northern Thailand. A household probability sample of 14,203 participants completed a survey including a scale measuring HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. Logistic regression models determined the associations between negative attitudes and perceived discrimination with individual history of HIV testing, knowledge of ARVs and communication regarding HIV/AIDS. Spearman's correlation coefficients determined the relationships between negative attitudes and perceived discrimination and HIV prevalence and ARV coverage at the site-level. Negative attitudes were related to never having tested for HIV, lacking knowledge of ARVs, and never having discussed HIV/AIDS. More negative attitudes were found in sites with the lowest HIV prevalence (i.e., Tanzania and Thailand) and more perceived discrimination against PLHA was found in sites with the lowest ARV coverage (i.e., Tanzania and Zimbabwe). Programs that promote widespread HIV testing and discussion of HIV/AIDS, as well as education regarding and universal access to ARVs, may reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Genberg, Becky L. & Hlavka, Zdenek & Konda, Kelika A. & Maman, Suzanne & Chariyalertsak, Suwat & Chingono, Alfred & Mbwambo, Jessie & Modiba, Precious & Van Rooyen, Heidi & Celentano, David D., 2009. "A comparison of HIV/AIDS-related stigma in four countries: Negative attitudes and perceived acts of discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(12), pages 2279-2287, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:68:y:2009:i:12:p:2279-2287
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277-9536(09)00216-0
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Obermeyer, C.M. & Osborn, M., 2007. "The utilization of testing and counseling for HIV: A review of the social and behavioral evidence," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(10), pages 1762-1774.
    2. Parker, Richard & Aggleton, Peter, 2003. "HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination: a conceptual framework and implications for action," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(1), pages 13-24, July.
    3. Wolfe, W.R. & Weiser, S.D. & Leiter, K. & Steward, W.T. & Percy-de Korte, F. & Phaladze, N. & Iacopino, V. & Heisler, M., 2008. "The impact of universal access to antiretroviral therapy on HIV stigma in Botswana," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(10), pages 1865-1871.
    4. Abadía-Barrero, César Ernesto & Castro, Arachu, 2006. "Experiences of stigma and access to HAART in children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(5), pages 1219-1228, March.
    5. Castro, A. & Farmer, P., 2005. "Understanding and addressing AIDS-related stigma: From anthropological theory to clinical practice in Haiti," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(1), pages 53-59.
    6. Bengt Muthén, 1984. "A general structural equation model with dichotomous, ordered categorical, and continuous latent variable indicators," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 49(1), pages 115-132, March.
    7. Maman, Suzanne & Abler, Laurie & Parker, Lisa & Lane, Tim & Chirowodza, Admire & Ntogwisangu, Jacob & Srirak, Namtip & Modiba, Precious & Murima, Oliver & Fritz, Katherine, 2009. "A comparison of HIV stigma and discrimination in five international sites: The influence of care and treatment resources in high prevalence settings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(12), pages 2271-2278, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Li, Li & Lin, Chunqing & Wu, Zunyou & Scott Comulada, W. & Ding, Yingying, 2012. "Regional differences in HIV prevalence and individual attitudes among service providers in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 283-287.
    2. Dionius B. Mahamboro & Nelsensius K. Fauk & Paul R. Ward & Maria S. Merry & Theodorus A. Siri & Lillian Mwanri, 2020. "HIV Stigma and Moral Judgement: Qualitative Exploration of the Experiences of HIV Stigma and Discrimination among Married Men Living with HIV in Yogyakarta," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Mathildah Mokgatle & Sphiwe Madiba, 2023. "Community Perceptions of HIV Stigma, Discriminatory Attitudes, and Disclosure Concerns: A Health Facility-Based Study in Selected Health Districts of South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Jürgensen, Marte & Sandøy, Ingvild Fossgard & Michelo, Charles & Fylkesnes, Knut, 2013. "Effects of home-based Voluntary Counselling and Testing on HIV-related stigma: Findings from a cluster-randomized trial in Zambia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 18-25.
    5. Jürgensen, Marte & Sandøy, Ingvild F. & Michelo, Charles & Fylkesnes, Knut & Mwangala, Sheila & Blystad, Astrid, 2013. "The seven Cs of the high acceptability of home-based VCT: Results from a mixed methods approach in Zambia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 210-219.
    6. Winskell, Kate & Hill, Elizabeth & Obyerodhyambo, Oby, 2011. "Comparing HIV-related symbolic stigma in six African countries: Social representations in young people’s narratives," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(8), pages 1257-1265.
    7. Tsai, Alexander C. & Bangsberg, David R. & Emenyonu, Nneka & Senkungu, Jude K. & Martin, Jeffrey N. & Weiser, Sheri D., 2011. "The social context of food insecurity among persons living with HIV/AIDS in rural Uganda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(12), pages 1717-1724.
    8. Jan Ostermann & Elizabeth A Reddy & Meghan M Shorter & Charles Muiruri & Antipas Mtalo & Dafrosa K Itemba & Bernard Njau & John A Bartlett & John A Crump & Nathan M Thielman, 2011. "Who Tests, Who Doesn't, and Why? Uptake of Mobile HIV Counseling and Testing in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(1), pages 1-8, January.
    9. Mi-So Shim & Gwang Suk Kim, 2020. "Factors Influencing Young Korean Men’s Knowledge and Stigmatizing Attitudes about HIV Infection," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, November.
    10. Cort, David A. & Tu, Hsin Fei, 2018. "Safety in stigmatizing? Instrumental stigma beliefs and protective sexual behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 144-152.
    11. Tsai, Alexander C. & Venkataramani, Atheendar S., 2015. "The causal effect of education on HIV stigma in Uganda: Evidence from a natural experiment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 37-46.
    12. Gausset, Quentin & Mogensen, Hanne Overgaard & Yameogo, Wambi Maurice Evariste & Berthé, Abdramane & Konaté, Blahima, 2012. "The ambivalence of stigma and the double-edged sword of HIV/AIDS intervention in Burkina Faso," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(7), pages 1037-1044.
    13. Louis S. Matza & Trena M. Paulus & Cindy P. Garris & Nicolas Velde & Vasiliki Chounta & Kristen A. Deger, 2020. "Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Social Media Data to Assess Perceptions of Route of Administration for Antiretroviral Treatment among People Living with HIV," The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Springer;International Academy of Health Preference Research, vol. 13(4), pages 409-422, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gausset, Quentin & Mogensen, Hanne Overgaard & Yameogo, Wambi Maurice Evariste & Berthé, Abdramane & Konaté, Blahima, 2012. "The ambivalence of stigma and the double-edged sword of HIV/AIDS intervention in Burkina Faso," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(7), pages 1037-1044.
    2. Maman, Suzanne & Abler, Laurie & Parker, Lisa & Lane, Tim & Chirowodza, Admire & Ntogwisangu, Jacob & Srirak, Namtip & Modiba, Precious & Murima, Oliver & Fritz, Katherine, 2009. "A comparison of HIV stigma and discrimination in five international sites: The influence of care and treatment resources in high prevalence settings," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(12), pages 2271-2278, June.
    3. Jürgensen, Marte & Sandøy, Ingvild Fossgard & Michelo, Charles & Fylkesnes, Knut, 2013. "Effects of home-based Voluntary Counselling and Testing on HIV-related stigma: Findings from a cluster-randomized trial in Zambia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 18-25.
    4. Padilla, Mark & Castellanos, Daniel & Guilamo-Ramos, Vincent & Reyes, Armando Matiz & Sánchez Marte, Leonardo E. & Soriano, Martha Arredondo, 2008. "Stigma, social inequality, and HIV risk disclosure among Dominican male sex workers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 380-388, August.
    5. Li, Li & Lin, Chunqing & Wu, Zunyou & Scott Comulada, W. & Ding, Yingying, 2012. "Regional differences in HIV prevalence and individual attitudes among service providers in China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 283-287.
    6. Yang, Lawrence H. & Chen, Fang-pei & Sia, Kathleen Janel & Lam, Jonathan & Lam, Katherine & Ngo, Hong & Lee, Sing & Kleinman, Arthur & Good, Byron, 2014. "“What matters most:” A cultural mechanism moderating structural vulnerability and moral experience of mental illness stigma," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 84-93.
    7. Keetie Roelen & Caroline Ackley & Paul Boyce & Nicolas Farina & Santiago Ripoll, 2020. "COVID-19 in LMICs: The Need to Place Stigma Front and Centre to Its Response," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(5), pages 1592-1612, December.
    8. Abadía-Barrero, César Ernesto & Castro, Arachu, 2006. "Experiences of stigma and access to HAART in children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(5), pages 1219-1228, March.
    9. Winskell, Kate & Hill, Elizabeth & Obyerodhyambo, Oby, 2011. "Comparing HIV-related symbolic stigma in six African countries: Social representations in young people’s narratives," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(8), pages 1257-1265.
    10. Tsai, Alexander C. & Bangsberg, David R. & Emenyonu, Nneka & Senkungu, Jude K. & Martin, Jeffrey N. & Weiser, Sheri D., 2011. "The social context of food insecurity among persons living with HIV/AIDS in rural Uganda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(12), pages 1717-1724.
    11. Labbé, Fabienne & Pelletier, Catherine & Bettinger, Julie A. & Curran, Janet & Graham, Janice E. & Greyson, Devon & MacDonald, Noni E. & Meyer, Samantha B. & Steenbeek, Audrey & Xu, Weiai & Dubé, Ève, 2022. "Stigma and blame related to COVID-19 pandemic: A case-study of editorial cartoons in Canada," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).
    12. Yaqub, Ohid & Coburn, Josie & Moore, Duncan A.Q., 2023. "Knowledge spillovers from HIV research-funding," SocArXiv gcuhn, Center for Open Science.
    13. Pınar Öktem, 2015. "The Role of the Family in Attributing Meaning to Living With HIV and Its Stigma in Turkey," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(4), pages 21582440156, November.
    14. McGinty, Emma E. & Goldman, Howard H. & Pescosolido, Bernice & Barry, Colleen L., 2015. "Portraying mental illness and drug addiction as treatable health conditions: Effects of a randomized experiment on stigma and discrimination," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 73-85.
    15. Tsai, Alexander C. & Venkataramani, Atheendar S., 2015. "The causal effect of education on HIV stigma in Uganda: Evidence from a natural experiment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 37-46.
    16. Hejoaka, Fabienne, 2009. "Care and secrecy: Being a mother of children living with HIV in Burkina Faso," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(6), pages 869-876, September.
    17. Djellouli, Nehla & Quevedo-Gómez, María Cristina, 2015. "Challenges to successful implementation of HIV and AIDS-related health policies in Cartagena, Colombia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 36-44.
    18. Mazanderani, Fadhila & Paparini, Sara, 2015. "The stories we tell: Qualitative research interviews, talking technologies and the ‘normalisation’ of life with HIV," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 66-73.
    19. Chen Zhang & Xiaoming Li & Yu Liu & Shan Qiao & Liying Zhang & Yuejiao Zhou & Zhenzhu Tang & Zhiyong Shen & Yi Chen, 2016. "Stigma against People Living with HIV/AIDS in China: Does the Route of Infection Matter?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, March.
    20. Winskell, Kate & Sabben, Gaëlle, 2016. "Sexual stigma and symbolic violence experienced, enacted, and counteracted in young Africans’ writing about same-sex attraction," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 143-150.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:68:y:2009:i:12:p:2279-2287. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.