IAS 2011 Abstract - Stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in coastal South India

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Stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in coastal South India

B. Unnikrishnan¹, J. Ramapuram², M. Rao³, R. Syal¹

¹Kasturba Medical College, Community Medicine, Mangalore, India, ²Kasturba Medical College (Manipal University), Internal Medicine, Mangalore, India, ³Kasturba Medical College (Manipal University), ICTC, Mangalore, India

Background: Stigma and its overtly expressed corollary discrimination, have been described as the “greatest barriers” to disease prevention, and for providing care and support to those living with HIV/AIDS, Overcoming HIV stigma, and perhaps more pertinently discrimination, are fundamental to addressing the HIV epidemic.This study was carried out with the objective to find out the HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV/AIDS in Coastal Karnataka.
Methods: A hospital based descriptive study was carried out in the Mangalore city on a sample size of 204 HIV Positive subjects in the age group of 18 to 65 years executed over a period of six months, HIV Stigma among PLWHA was assessed using 40 Question HIV Stigma Scale. The study was approved by the IEC , Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore.
Results: Majority of HIV positives who participated in this study were of the age group 26-35 years (41.3%) followed by the age group 36-45years (37.5%). 53.8%of them were males. , 63.5% of study population were married. 70.2% of PLWHA belong to the lower socio economic status. Informed written consent for testing was not taken from 5.8% of the subjects. Counseling was done among 29.8% of PLWHA before and after the test, 14.4% of PLWHA claimed that their HIV status was disclosed to someone else prior to them 1.9% PLWHA were refused treatment as a result of their HIV status. 3.8% had to suffer delays in the treatment and had to pay extra for health care services. HIV status of 14.4% PLWHA was disclosed in their work place.
Conclusion: HIV related Stigma & discrimination can have an extreme, negative impact on the lives of PLWHA. Stigma, discrimination and human rights violations are intimately linked, reinforcing and legitimizing each other.