Stigma against HIV/AIDS patients, among Nurses from a Private Hospital in South Karnataka

Abstract

Background: Health care settings are reported to be the most significant contexts for stigma and discrimination of HIV/AIDS in India, which may lead to severe social consequences and also hampers the treatment and diagnosis contributing to further spread. Objective: The study was planned to study the stigma against PLWHA (People living with HIV/AIDS) among in-service nurses of a private hospital. Methodology: A hospital based cross-sectional survey was conducted among all the nursing personnel, willing to participate in the study of a private hospital in south Karnataka, India. The study was conducted for a period of 3 months using a pre-tested and predesigned tool to measure HIV related stigma and discrimination in health facilities and the data collected was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 Results: About the attitudes of PLWHA, majority (68.6%) reported that, people living with HIV/AIDS do not care if they infect other people. When enquired about the perception of rights of PLWHA and the care provided to them, majority agreed that respective families has the right to know about the HIV/AIDS status (95.71%); women with HIV/AIDS status should not get pregnant if they already have children (92.86%); should be sterilized without their willingness (72.86%) and majority of them were not worried to touch PLWHA clothing and taking their temperature (p=0.014). Most (35%) of the nurses observed other Health care providers giving HIV treatment conditional on use of family planning Conclusion: High level of stigma against PLWHA exists among HCPs and such may lead to prejudicial actions accompanied by discriminatory behavior.