Factors associated with pregnant women's anticipations and experiences of HIV-related stigma in rural Kenya

Abstract

Pregnant women who fear or experience HIV-related stigma may not get care for their own health or medications to reduce perinatal transmission of HIV. This study examined factors associated with anticipating and experiencing HIV-related stigma among 1777 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in rural Kenya. Women were interviewed at baseline, offered HIV testing and care, and a sub-set was re-interviewed at 4–8 weeks postpartum. Women who were older, had less education, whose husbands had other wives, and who perceived community discrimination against people with HIV had significantly greater adjusted odds of anticipating HIV stigma. Over half of the HIV-positive women interviewed postpartum reported having experienced stigma, much of which was self-stigma. Women experiencing minor depression, and those whose family knew of their HIV status had significantly greater adjusted odds of experiencing stigma. Lack of women's empowerment, as well as depression, may be important risk factors for HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

Keywords:

• HIV
• stigma
• pregnancy
• Kenya
• empowerment

Acknowledgements

This publication was supported by NIH/NCRR/OD UCSF-CTSI Grant TL1 RR024129. The MAMAS project was supported by NIH/NIMH Grant K01MH081777. The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.