HIV Stigma and Status Disclosure in Three Municipalities in Ghana
Background: HIV-related stigma and HIV status disclosure are important elements in the continuous fight against HIV as these impact the prevention efforts and antiretroviral treatment adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in many communities. Objectives: The objectives of the study wer...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Annals of Global Health |
| Online Access: | https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/3120 |
| _version_ | 1819194844595093504 |
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| author | Awolu Adam Adam Fusheini Martin Amogre Ayanore Norbert Amuna Faith Agbozo Nuworza Kugbey Prince Kubi-Appiah Geoffrey Adenuga Asalu Isaac Agbemafle Bright Akpalu Senam Klomegah Abdulrazak Nayina Doris Hadzi Kingsley Afeti Christopher Emmanuel Makam Felix Mensah Francis Bruno Zotor |
| author_facet | Awolu Adam Adam Fusheini Martin Amogre Ayanore Norbert Amuna Faith Agbozo Nuworza Kugbey Prince Kubi-Appiah Geoffrey Adenuga Asalu Isaac Agbemafle Bright Akpalu Senam Klomegah Abdulrazak Nayina Doris Hadzi Kingsley Afeti Christopher Emmanuel Makam Felix Mensah Francis Bruno Zotor |
| author_sort | Awolu Adam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: HIV-related stigma and HIV status disclosure are important elements in the continuous fight against HIV as these impact the prevention efforts and antiretroviral treatment adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in many communities. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to examine the prevalence and experience of various types of HIV-related stigma and HIV status disclosure among PLWHA in Volta region. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to collect quantitative data from 301 PLWHA. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and present data on socio-demographic variables. Correlation analysis was done to determine factors associated with HIV stigma and status disclosure while a Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences in internalized HIV stigma. Findings: The mean age of the participants was 44.82 (SD: 12.22), 224 (74.4%) were female, and 90% attained at least primary education. A Pearson r analysis revealed that ethnicity (r[299] = 0.170, p = 0.003), religious affiliation (r[299] = –0.205, p = 0.001) and social support (r[299] = 0.142, p = 0.014) significantly predicted disclosure of HIV status. Fear of family rejection (62%) and shame (56%) were reasons for non-disclosure of HIV status. A Mann-Whitney’s U-test revealed that females are more likely than males to internalize HIV stigma. Community-related HIV stigma in the form of gossip (56.1%), verbal harassment (30.9%), and physical harassment (8.6%) was reported. Conclusion: A high rate of HIV status disclosure was found with social support, ethnicity, and religious affiliation being the associated factors. Internalized HIV stigma is prevalent among PLWHA while community-related stigma impacts HIV status disclosure. Strengthening social support systems and implementing culturally appropriate educational interventions may help in reducing community-related HIV stigma. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T02:03:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-80723562577c4e36a7374b2518b7b856 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-9996 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T02:03:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-80723562577c4e36a7374b2518b7b8562022-12-21T18:03:56ZengUbiquity PressAnnals of Global Health2214-99962021-06-0187110.5334/aogh.31202623HIV Stigma and Status Disclosure in Three Municipalities in GhanaAwolu Adam0Adam Fusheini1Martin Amogre Ayanore2Norbert Amuna3Faith Agbozo4Nuworza Kugbey5Prince Kubi-Appiah6Geoffrey Adenuga Asalu7Isaac Agbemafle8Bright Akpalu9Senam Klomegah10Abdulrazak Nayina11Doris Hadzi12Kingsley Afeti13Christopher Emmanuel Makam14Felix Mensah15Francis Bruno Zotor16Department of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho; Center for Health Literacy and Rural Health Promotion, P. O. Box GP1563, AccraDepartment of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, P.O. Box 56, 9054, Dunedin, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ; Center for Health Literacy and Rural Health Promotion, P. O. Box GP1563, AccraDepartment of Health Policy Planning, and Management, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of General Studies, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, SomanyaDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoHIV Counseling and Voluntary Testing Center, Hohoe Municipal Hospital, HohoeDepartment of Family and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, HoBackground: HIV-related stigma and HIV status disclosure are important elements in the continuous fight against HIV as these impact the prevention efforts and antiretroviral treatment adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in many communities. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to examine the prevalence and experience of various types of HIV-related stigma and HIV status disclosure among PLWHA in Volta region. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to collect quantitative data from 301 PLWHA. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze and present data on socio-demographic variables. Correlation analysis was done to determine factors associated with HIV stigma and status disclosure while a Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences in internalized HIV stigma. Findings: The mean age of the participants was 44.82 (SD: 12.22), 224 (74.4%) were female, and 90% attained at least primary education. A Pearson r analysis revealed that ethnicity (r[299] = 0.170, p = 0.003), religious affiliation (r[299] = –0.205, p = 0.001) and social support (r[299] = 0.142, p = 0.014) significantly predicted disclosure of HIV status. Fear of family rejection (62%) and shame (56%) were reasons for non-disclosure of HIV status. A Mann-Whitney’s U-test revealed that females are more likely than males to internalize HIV stigma. Community-related HIV stigma in the form of gossip (56.1%), verbal harassment (30.9%), and physical harassment (8.6%) was reported. Conclusion: A high rate of HIV status disclosure was found with social support, ethnicity, and religious affiliation being the associated factors. Internalized HIV stigma is prevalent among PLWHA while community-related stigma impacts HIV status disclosure. Strengthening social support systems and implementing culturally appropriate educational interventions may help in reducing community-related HIV stigma.https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/3120 |
| spellingShingle | Awolu Adam Adam Fusheini Martin Amogre Ayanore Norbert Amuna Faith Agbozo Nuworza Kugbey Prince Kubi-Appiah Geoffrey Adenuga Asalu Isaac Agbemafle Bright Akpalu Senam Klomegah Abdulrazak Nayina Doris Hadzi Kingsley Afeti Christopher Emmanuel Makam Felix Mensah Francis Bruno Zotor HIV Stigma and Status Disclosure in Three Municipalities in Ghana Annals of Global Health |
| title | HIV Stigma and Status Disclosure in Three Municipalities in Ghana |
| title_full | HIV Stigma and Status Disclosure in Three Municipalities in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | HIV Stigma and Status Disclosure in Three Municipalities in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | HIV Stigma and Status Disclosure in Three Municipalities in Ghana |
| title_short | HIV Stigma and Status Disclosure in Three Municipalities in Ghana |
| title_sort | hiv stigma and status disclosure in three municipalities in ghana |
| url | https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/3120 |
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