Abstract
BackgroundThe current study aims to investigate how the ability to accurately gauge risk factors associated with contracting HIV while taking into consideration various individual and community level socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., race and poverty) predicts the nature of stigmatizing attitudes toward persons with HIV.MethodsData from a sample of 1,347 Cape Town area youth who participated in the Cape Area Panel Study (CAPS) Wave 2a were used. Latent Class Analysis was conducted to ascertain whether response patterns regarding knowledge of HIV contraction suggest the presence of subgroups within the sample.ResultsFindings indicate that there are four latent classes representing unique response pattern profiles regarding knowledge of HIV contraction. Additionally, our results suggest that those in South Africa who are classified as “white,” live in more affluent communities, and have more phobic perceptions of HIV risk are also more likely to have the most stigmatizing attitudes toward those who are HIV positive.ConclusionImplications of these findings include extending HIV knowledge, education, and awareness programs to those who are not traditionally targeted in an attempt to increase levels of knowledge about HIV and, consequently, decrease stigma.
Highlights
HIV-related stigma and resultant fears of discrimination are associated with decision making around HIV testing, screening, and seeking treatment [1,2,3]
A 2005 study conducted among 1,746 persons aged 15 and older in the Western Cape, South Africa, found that 30% of respondents were unwilling or unsure whether they would buy food from a food seller with HIV, and 11% were unwilling or unsure whether they would care for a family member with AIDS, indicating that there may be a wide range of beliefs about the risk of contracting HIV [5]
Given the distinct historical and political context of South Africa, whereby society was rigidly stratified by race and class, the current study aims to predict the presence of stigmatizing attitudes toward HIV positive populations, taking into account ability to accurately gauge risk and various individual and community level socio-demographic characteristics
Summary
HIV-related stigma and resultant fears of discrimination are associated with decision making around HIV testing, screening, and seeking treatment [1,2,3]. As studies have shown that knowing someone who is HIV positive leads to a decreased probability of having stigmatizing attitudes [6,7]. Maughan-Brown (2010) found that persons with HIV in South Africa often wait until they are very sick to seek care. This may result in more negative associations because by the time these individuals are known to be HIV positive, they are likely to be very sick because of delayed care [8]. The current study aims to investigate how the ability to accurately gauge risk factors associated with contracting HIV while taking into consideration various individual and community level socio-demographic characteristics (e.g., race and poverty) predicts the nature of stigmatizing attitudes toward persons with HIV
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