Experiences of Stigmatization and Discrimination in Accessing Health Care Services Among People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

IF 1.5 Q4 INFECTIOUS DISEASES
HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care Pub Date : 2024-02-19 eCollection Date: 2024-01-01 DOI:10.2147/HIV.S447551
Peters Adekoya, Faith D Lannap, Fatima Anne Ajonye, Stanley Amadiegwu, Ifeyinwa Okereke, Charity Elochukwu, Christopher Ayaba Aruku, Adeyemi Oluwaseyi, Grace Kumolu, Michael Ejeh, Ayodotun O Olutola, Doreen Magaji
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Abstract

Background: Recent advances in care and treatment have turned HIV into a "chronic but manageable condition". Despite this, some people living with HIV (PLHIV) continue to suffer from stigma and discrimination in accessing health care services. This study examined the experience of stigma and discrimination and access to health care services among PLHIV in Akwa Ibom State.

Methods: The Center for Clinical Care and Clinical Research (CCCRN), implementing a USAID-funded Integrated Child Health and Social Services Award (ICHSSA 1) project, conducted a community-based cross-sectional survey in 12 randomly selected local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. A structured quantitative questionnaire was used for data collection. In total, 425 randomly selected PLHIV were interviewed after providing informed consent. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were conducted using the data analytical application Stata 14.

Results: The study revealed that 215 PLHIV (50.4%) had been denied access to health care services, including dental care, because of their HIV status in Akwa Ibom State. Respondents reported being afraid of: gossip (78%), being verbally abused (17%), or being physically harassed or assaulted because of their positive status (13%). Self-stigmatization was also evident; respondents reported being ashamed because of their positive HIV status (29%), exhibiting self-guilt (16%), having low self-esteem (38%), and experiencing self-isolation (36%). Women, rural residents, PLHIV with no education, unemployed, single, young people aged between 19 and 29 years, and older adults were more likely to experience HIV-related stigmatization.

Conclusion: Data from the study revealed that the percentage of PLHIV who experience health-related stigmatization because of their HIV status is high in Akwa Ibom State. This finding calls for the prioritization of interventions to reduce stigma, enhance self-esteem, and promote empathy and compassion for PLHIV. It also highlights the need for HIV education for family and community members and health care providers, to enhance the knowledge of HIV and improve acceptance of PLHIV within families, communities, and health care settings.

尼日利亚阿夸伊博姆州艾滋病病毒感染者(PLHIV)在获得医疗服务时遭受的侮辱和歧视。
背景:最近在护理和治疗方面取得的进展已使艾滋病毒成为一种 "慢性但可控制的疾病"。尽管如此,一些艾滋病病毒感染者(PLHIV)在获得医疗保健服务方面仍然遭受着羞辱和歧视。本研究调查了阿夸伊博姆州艾滋病毒感染者遭受羞辱和歧视的经历以及获得医疗服务的情况:临床护理和临床研究中心(CCCRN)在尼日利亚阿夸伊博姆州的 12 个随机选取的地方政府辖区开展了一项基于社区的横断面调查。数据收集采用了结构化定量问卷。在获得知情同意后,共随机抽取了 425 名艾滋病毒感染者进行了访谈。使用数据分析应用程序 Stata 14 进行了描述性统计和双变量分析:研究显示,在阿夸伊博姆州,有 215 名艾滋病毒感染者(50.4%)因其艾滋病毒感染状况而无法获得医疗服务,包括牙科护理。受访者报告称,他们害怕:因为自己的阳性身份而遭受流言蜚语(78%)、辱骂(17%)、身体骚扰或攻击(13%)。自我污名化现象也很明显;受访者报告说,他们因为艾滋病毒呈阳性而感到羞耻(29%),表现出自责(16%),自卑(38%),以及自我孤立(36%)。女性、农村居民、未受过教育的艾滋病毒感染者、失业者、单身者、19 至 29 岁的年轻人和老年人更容易受到与艾滋病毒相关的侮辱:研究数据显示,在阿夸伊博姆州,因感染艾滋病毒而在健康方面遭受侮辱的艾滋病毒感染者比例很高。这一发现要求优先采取干预措施,以减少污名化、增强自尊、促进对艾滋病毒感染者的同情和怜悯。它还凸显了对家庭和社区成员以及医疗保健提供者进行艾滋病毒教育的必要性,以增强对艾滋病毒的了解,提高家庭、社区和医疗保健机构对艾滋病毒感染者的接受程度。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
3.00
自引率
6.70%
发文量
61
审稿时长
16 weeks
期刊介绍: About Dove Medical Press Dove Medical Press Ltd is part of Taylor & Francis Group, the Academic Publishing Division of Informa PLC. We specialize in the publication of Open Access peer-reviewed journals across the broad spectrum of science, technology and especially medicine. Dove Medical Press was founded in 2003 with the objective of combining the highest editorial standards with the ''best of breed'' new publishing technologies. We have offices in Manchester and London in the United Kingdom, representatives in Princeton, New Jersey in the United States, and our editorial offices are in Auckland, New Zealand. Dr Scott Fraser is our Medical Director based in the UK. He has been in full time clinical practice for over 20 years as well as having an active research interest.
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