Discrimination and its impact on the quality of life of HIV-infected people in Poland on the example of the city of Białystok: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction and objective: The aim of the study was to assess discriminatory behaviours towards HIV-infected people in Poland reported by patients treated in the Observation and Infection Clinic with the Subunit for HIV/AIDS Patients of the Medical University of Bialystok Clinical Hospital. Materials and methods: A total of 147 participants, including 104 men (70.7%) and 43 women (29.3%), took part in the research. The study was conducted between May 2019 and January 2020. The study used a diagnostic survey method with a modified questionnaire “Psychosocial situation of people living with HIV/AIDS in Poland” by Dr Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak and standardised psychometric tools: the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results: One in three respondents (32.7%) experienced discrimination. Healthcare professionals were reported to most frequently show discriminatory behaviour against seropositive persons (23.8%). Refusal of medical assistance and unethical treatment by medical staff were mentioned as the most common forms of discrimination (10.9% each). Conclusions: The quality of life of HIV-infected persons was moderate and was determined by the experience of stigma/discrimination due to their HIV status. Higher quality of life was presented by those who did not experience stigma/discrimination. HIV-infected respondents often experienced discrimination and stigma due to their clinical diagnosis. Since healthcare workers were the most common source of discrimination, it is important to undertake educational activities in this professional group as part of campaign against discrimination of HIV-positive people.