Abstract
Background: After three decades of fight with HIV/AIDS in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), its control remains a challenge. Stigma against PLWAs is a major barrier to its control. Objective: To assess the stigma and associated factors, towards PLWAs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methodology: Cross-sectional study using a structured self-administered questionnaire was conducted among 713 adolescents (15–20 years). Descriptive analysis and adjusted odds ratio (OR) was calculated using SPSS. Results: More males were of the view of; ending friendship with people infected with HIV, they should be isolated; kept out of school and moved out of the house. Females were willing to work with PLWAs. These stigmatizing attitudes were significantly related to lack of knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS. Conclusion and recommendations: Educated adolescents in Riyadh have stigmatizing attitudes towards PLWAs. There is a great need to formulate interventions providing in depth knowledge regarding HIV transmission and prevention and to focus on changing people's negative attitudes against PLWAs.
Published Version
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