Workplace interventions to reduce HIV and TB stigma among health care workers – Where do we go from here?

Abstract

Fear of stigma and discrimination among health care workers (HCWs) in South African hospitals is thought to be a major factor in the high rates of HIV and tuberculosis infection experienced in the health care workforce. The aim of the current study is to inform the development of a stigma reduction intervention in the context of a large multicomponent trial. We analysed relevant results of four feasibility studies conducted in the lead up to the trial. Our findings suggest that a stigma reduction campaign must address community and structural level drivers of stigma, in addition to individual level concerns, through a participatory and iterative approach. Importantly, stigma reduction must not only be embedded in the institutional management of HCWs but also be attentive to the localised needs of HCWs themselves.

Keywords:

• stigma reduction
• HIV/AIDS
• tuberculosis
• health care workers
• workplace interventions

Acknowledgements

The team wishes to thank the many health workers in the Free State province, as well as colleagues from University of British Columbia, South Africa Department of Health, the South African National Institute for Occupational Health, The Free State Department of Health, University of the Free State, and the World Health Organization and International Labour Office who participated in, and indeed led, the various feasibility studies and initiatives described in this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) [grant number ROH-115212] ‘Promoting Health Equity by Addressing the Needs of Health Workers: A Collaborative, International Research Program’.