Intention to reduce stigma for people who are affected by HIV A theory of planned behavior based approach

ABSTRACT

With an official HIV infection rate of 18.5%, approximately one in five South Africans are HIV positive. Despite this prevalence, stigma and discrimination associated with being HIV positive is widespread. HIV-related stigma emanates from the fact that HIV is associated with risky behaviors such as drug use, sexual promiscuity, homosexuality and transactional sex. Participants were recruited through announcements in classrooms and during community meetings. Participants were selected if they knew someone who was discriminated against HIV as a result of being affected by HIV. The status of the participants was irrelevant. Seven focus group sessions were conducted with 62 participants. The results show that stigma is seen as a result of lack of HIV knowledge, with participants from rural areas showing more knowledge regarding HIV transmission and care as compared to urban participants. Most participants agreed that disclosure leads to more voluntary HIV testing, obtaining treatment and preventing further transmission of HIV. The results of this study provide indications that stigma can be mitigated by increasing knowledge of HIV prevention, targeted information campaigns in urban areas, and encouraging discussion about stigma and discrimination against the disease. Programmes should apply the Theory of Planned Behavior for the development of such interventions, take culture, creed, and other social affiliation into consideration.

KEYWORDS:

• Stigma
• HIV affected
• theory of planned behavior
• South Africa

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Correction

Limitation

This study presented the results of focus group sessions; therefore, they may not be representative for the whole population.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the critical comments by Prof. John B Jemmott III in designing this research. Mrs. Soleka Boltin for the recruiting of the participants. They also thank the facilitators for their support and the members of the community for participating in the sessions.

Author contribution

GAH and CSM designed the pre-survey, the focus group protocol, conducted the survey and trained the facilitators for the focus group sessions. RC analysed the qualitative and quantitative data. AG contributed to the design of the survey and the manuscript. ZN assisted with the design of the focus group protocol and development of the manuscript. AF assisted with the design of the focus group protocol and the development of the manuscript. JMB analysed the qualitative and quantitative data and contributed to the development of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported in part by a research grant for faculty development by the Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia.