A comparison in HIV-associated stigma among healthcare workers in urban and rural Gujarat

Abstract

The present study measures levels of stigma within health care settings in urban and rural Gujarat, in an attempt to understand how this may have contributed to the state's increasing HIV incidence. Two sites were studied: a rural hospital in Bardoli and an urban hospital in Surat. HIV-associated stigma among healthcare workers (N=170) was assessed using a Stigma Index. Overall, analyses suggest an increase in medical education was found to be associated with higher stigmatisation (p<0.001). Furthermore, a statistically significant difference between stigma scores of HCWs in rural and urban Gujarat was not observed.

Cette étude mesure les niveaux de stigmatisation dans des environnementaux médicaux situés dans les zones urbaines et rurales du Gujarat, afin d'essayer de comprendre comment la stigmatisation pourrait avoir contribué à l'incidence croissante du VIH dans l'Etat. Deux sites ont été étudiés : un hôpital situé en zone rurale à Bardoli et un hôpital urbain à Surat. La stigmatisation associée au VIH parmi les travailleurs de la santé (N=170) a été évaluée en utilisant un indice de stigmatisation. Globalement, les analyses suggèrent qu'une meilleure éducation médicale était associée à une plus forte stigmatisation (p<0.001). De plus, aucune différence statistiquement importante entre les résultats de la stigmatisation des travailleurs de la santé dans les zones rurales et ceux des zones urbaines du Gujarat n'a été observée.

Mots clés:

• Stigmatisation
• travailleurs de la santé
• patients séropositifs
• Inde

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kartavya J Vyas

Kartavya J Vyas (BS, BA) received his bachelor's degrees in biological sciences and sociocultural anthropology at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in 2010. In addition to his work as a clinical research assistant at the UCSD Owen Clinic and at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego (NMCSD), he is a board member on the San Diego County HIV Prevention and Community Planning Board. His interest is in HIV/AIDS stigma and prevention.

Gulab R Patel

Gulab R Patel (MS, DNB) is a senior professor at the Government Medical College and is the Head of the Department of Surgery at the New Civil Hospital in Surat, Gujarat. In addition, he is an examiner at various undergraduate and postgraduate examinations in India. His main interests are in oncology, HIV/AIDS, and health care management.

Deepak Shukla

Deepak Shukla, MD, DTMH is the former Director of the Surat New Civil Hospital ART Therapy Center. He is currently an associate professor at the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research (SMIMER) Medical College. His interests are in HIV/AIDS medical care and prevention.

William C Mathews

William C Mathews (MD, MSPH) received his medical degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1975 and his masters in public health from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1987. He co-founded the UCSD Owen Clinic in 1982 and is its current Director. In addition to his clinical medicine, he is interested in clinical research, outcomes, and statistics. In the past few years he has travelled to Ethiopia and South Africa to train providers in HIV/AIDS treatments and biostatistics.