Measuring HIV stigma for PLHAs and nurses over time in five African countries

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• HIV stigma negatively impacts quality of life, medication adherence, and healthcare access for people living with HIV.
• Limited research exists on HIV stigma by association experienced by nurses and healthcare workers caring for people with HIV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document and compare levels of HIV stigma reported by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) and nurses in five African nations over a 1-year period.
• To investigate the longitudinal changes in HIV stigma experienced by PLHAs and nurses.

Main Methods:

• A repeated measures cohort design with a three-wave longitudinal study over 1 year.
• Standardized scales were used to measure HIV stigma in PLHAs (N=948) and nurses (N=887) across Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, and Tanzania.

Main Results:

• Eighty-four percent of PLHAs reported HIV stigma at baseline, decreasing to 64.9% after 1 year.
• Eighty percent of nurses reported HIV stigma at baseline, increasing to 83.7% after 1 year.
• Consistently high levels of HIV stigma were documented for both PLHAs and nurses in all five countries.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms significant and persistent HIV stigma among both people living with HIV/AIDS and healthcare providers in the region.
• Findings underscore the need for stigma reduction interventions, with a particular focus on supporting healthcare providers facing stigma by association.