Correlates of HIV-Related Self-stigma Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia

Background: Not much is known about correlates of HIV-related self-stigma among female sex workers. Using the theory of planned behavior in the Malaysian context, this study investigated the relationships of HIV knowledge, attitudes towards HIV, attitudes towards people living with HIV, perceived so...

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Main Authors: Davood Mehrabi, Ezhar Tamam, Somayeh Mortazavi Ganji Ketab
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Gonabad University of Medical Sciences 2020-06-01
Series:Journal of Research & Health
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-1809-en.html
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author Davood Mehrabi
Ezhar Tamam
Somayeh Mortazavi Ganji Ketab
author_facet Davood Mehrabi
Ezhar Tamam
Somayeh Mortazavi Ganji Ketab
author_sort Davood Mehrabi
collection DOAJ
description Background: Not much is known about correlates of HIV-related self-stigma among female sex workers. Using the theory of planned behavior in the Malaysian context, this study investigated the relationships of HIV knowledge, attitudes towards HIV, attitudes towards people living with HIV, perceived social support, self-esteem, and age with HIV-related self-stigma, also how much of the variance in HIV-related self-stigma is explained by the variables. Methods: Self-administered close-ended questionnaires were administered to 134 female sex workers, as a subgroup of HIV-at-risk individuals, selected using a combination of snowball and respondent-driven sampling methods. Results: Self-administered close-ended questionnaires were administered to 134 female sex workers, as a subgroup of HIV-at-risk individuals, selected using a combination of snowball and respondent-driven sampling methods. Results: A majority of the respondents substantially stigmatized themselves, despite good HIV knowledge, high self-esteem, and favorable attitudes towards both HIV and people living with HIV. Attitudes towards HIV was more favorable than attitudes towards people living with HIV. The respondents received higher social supports from a special person, followed by friends, and family members. Age, attitudes towards HIV, and attitudes towards people living with HIV were significantly and negatively correlated with HIV-related self-stigma. Age, attitudes towards HIV, and attitudes towards people living with HIV collectively explained 18% of the variance in HIV-related self-stigma. Conclusion: HIV knowledge, perceived social support and self-esteem did not enter the final model to explain variance in HIV-related self-stigma. This study advances our understanding by clarifying the relative contribution of age, attitudes towards HIV, and people living with HIV in the variance of HIV-related self-stigma among female sex workers at risk of HIV.
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spelling doaj.art-b5d58bec26014ac292418098037fe1292022-12-21T22:44:11ZengGonabad University of Medical SciencesJournal of Research & Health2423-57172423-57172020-06-01104249256Correlates of HIV-Related Self-stigma Among Female Sex Workers in MalaysiaDavood Mehrabi0Ezhar Tamam1Somayeh Mortazavi Ganji Ketab2 Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Communication & Culture, Faculty of Cultural Studies and Communication, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran. Department of Communication, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Department of Communication, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Background: Not much is known about correlates of HIV-related self-stigma among female sex workers. Using the theory of planned behavior in the Malaysian context, this study investigated the relationships of HIV knowledge, attitudes towards HIV, attitudes towards people living with HIV, perceived social support, self-esteem, and age with HIV-related self-stigma, also how much of the variance in HIV-related self-stigma is explained by the variables. Methods: Self-administered close-ended questionnaires were administered to 134 female sex workers, as a subgroup of HIV-at-risk individuals, selected using a combination of snowball and respondent-driven sampling methods. Results: Self-administered close-ended questionnaires were administered to 134 female sex workers, as a subgroup of HIV-at-risk individuals, selected using a combination of snowball and respondent-driven sampling methods. Results: A majority of the respondents substantially stigmatized themselves, despite good HIV knowledge, high self-esteem, and favorable attitudes towards both HIV and people living with HIV. Attitudes towards HIV was more favorable than attitudes towards people living with HIV. The respondents received higher social supports from a special person, followed by friends, and family members. Age, attitudes towards HIV, and attitudes towards people living with HIV were significantly and negatively correlated with HIV-related self-stigma. Age, attitudes towards HIV, and attitudes towards people living with HIV collectively explained 18% of the variance in HIV-related self-stigma. Conclusion: HIV knowledge, perceived social support and self-esteem did not enter the final model to explain variance in HIV-related self-stigma. This study advances our understanding by clarifying the relative contribution of age, attitudes towards HIV, and people living with HIV in the variance of HIV-related self-stigma among female sex workers at risk of HIV.http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-1809-en.htmlhivself-stigmafemalesex workersattitudessocial support
spellingShingle Davood Mehrabi
Ezhar Tamam
Somayeh Mortazavi Ganji Ketab
Correlates of HIV-Related Self-stigma Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia
Journal of Research & Health
hiv
self-stigma
female
sex workers
attitudes
social support
title Correlates of HIV-Related Self-stigma Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia
title_full Correlates of HIV-Related Self-stigma Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia
title_fullStr Correlates of HIV-Related Self-stigma Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Correlates of HIV-Related Self-stigma Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia
title_short Correlates of HIV-Related Self-stigma Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia
title_sort correlates of hiv related self stigma among female sex workers in malaysia
topic hiv
self-stigma
female
sex workers
attitudes
social support
url http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-1809-en.html
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