Abstract
BackgroundStigma and discrimination attached to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been recognised as a major obstacle to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support throughout the world. Stigma and discrimination are more devastating when they occur in health care settings where it is least expected.AimTo explore the factors attributable to stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV in two Ethiopian rural hospitals on what they thought of health care professionals (HCPs) attending to them.MethodsA qualitative exploratory approach was used. Data collection was by means of audio-taped interview and Tesch’s content analysis approach was used. The sample size for this study was determined by saturation of data and consisted of 16 participants who were people living with HIV admitted as inpatients to the two selected hospitals in Amhara region of Ethiopia.ResultsParticipants’ views were grouped into: fear of contact, delay of services, substandard services, denial of care, impoliteness of health care providers, breach of confidentiality and poor patient follow-up for persons infected with HIV.ConclusionThe health care settings have been recognised as one of the contexts where HIV and AIDS-related stigmatisation and discrimination can occur. Hospital policies and institutional support should be tailored to embrace people living with HIV as the provision of institutional support is imperative in creating a good working environment and improving the commitment of HCPs so as to enable them to provide holistic care for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) without discrimination.
Highlights
Stigma and discrimination (SAD) of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been a hindrance for prevention, treatment and care.[1]
Fear of handling people living with HIV and AIDS Eight of the participants in FHRH observed that some health care professionals’ (HCPs) in the hospital use extra precautions while providing them clinical care and treatments
This study further verified quality issues such as delay of service and substandard care. These findings are supported by the findings of Essomba et al.[12] in their study on the perceived experiences of patients on SAD in health care settings where people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) reported that they were deprived of treatment and that HCPs treated them with disdain
Summary
Stigma and discrimination (SAD) of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been a hindrance for prevention, treatment and care.[1] HIV and AIDS-related stigmatisation and discrimination jeopardises the fight against the epidemic. It is imperative that health care policy makers and administrators give due emphasis to HIV and AIDS-related SAD reduction interventions in health care settings to address health care professionals’ (HCPs) negative attitudes and potential biases.[2]. Interventions targeting and empowering HCPs and people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) should be coupled with institutional policies and strategies that uphold the rights of PLWHA.[3]. Stigma and discrimination attached to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been recognised as a major obstacle to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support throughout the world. Stigma and discrimination are more devastating when they occur in health care settings where it is least expected
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