Stigma and Discrimination among People Living with HIV and Health Care Providers, Health Region 9, 2019

Abstract

HIV stigma and discrimination are barriers for people living with HIV (PLHIV) to access into health system and affect their health consequence as well as the attitude of health care providers (HCP). This study aimed to explore the occurrence of HIV stigma and discrimination among HCP and PLHIV in 3 provinces of Health Region 9 by comparing the data between year 2017 and 2019. We applied multilevel sampling to recruit HCP: 648 people in 2017 and 435 people in 2019. By convenience sampling, PLHIV aged 18 years and older currently receiving HIV related services at a health care facility were recruited: 642 people in 2017 and 618 in 2019. Questionnaires were used as data gathering instruments. Mean and frequency were applied in statistical analysis. Comparing data between 2017 and 2019 revealed that HCP reported stigma or discriminatory practices towards PLHIV in their health facility with a slight rise. HCP reported having fear of getting infected with HIV while caring for a client living with HIV with a slightly increase from 56% to 57%. HCP reported having attitude regarding HIV stigma and discrimination with a slightly increase from 78% to 80%. PLHIV avoid to access into health service decreased from 13% to 7%. PLHIV reported experiencing internalized stigma in the past 12 months with an increase from 33% to 50%. HCP reported having stigma and discrimination to PLHIV in Health Region 9 in 2019 was higher than those data studied in 2017. PLHIV who haven’t received the proper care may result in death or lead to transmit the disease to others. Continuously development of core composite indicators regarding stigma and discrimination, should be implemented comprehensively, along with the training interventions for HCP in health care settings to improve the quality of service delivery. These should help to reduce self-stigma and promote the right to access more prevention and care.