The prevalence and predictors of stigma amongst people living with HIV/AIDS in the Western Province

Abstract

The aim of the present study was determine the extent to which internalized and enacted stigma is experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS and to establish correlates of such experiences. A convenience sample of 400 HIV-positive participants was selected from three health clinics in the Cape Town area. Respondents’ experiences of internalized and enacted stigma were investigated using the HIV/AIDS Stigma Instrument – PLWA (HASI-P). Overall, 28% of respondents endorsed more than one item addressing internalized stigma and 8% endorsed more than one item on any of the four subscales measuring enacted stigma. Male respondents (OR = 0.52, CI = 0.92–0.99), younger respondents (OR = 0.52, CI = 0.29–0.94), and those respondents who had been living with HIV longer were less likely to experience internalized stigma. More educated respondents (OR = 1.19, CI = 1.02–1.39) experienced more internalized stigma than those with less education No demographic characteristics predicted enacted stigma in this particular population. There are a number of possible reasons for low reports of HIV-related stigma, including having access to treatment and not disclosing HIV status.

Keywords:

• stigma
• HIV
• South Africa
• predictors

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through USAID under the terms of Award No. 674-A-00-08-00009-00 to the Perinatal HIV Research Unit. The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of USAID/PEPFAR. We would also like to thank Ms. Anna Grimsrud for her statistical input on the project.