PERCEIVED STIGMATISATION RELATED EXPERIENCES PERPETRATED BY HEALTH WORKERS TOWARDS PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN THREE SELECTED HOSPITALS IN IBADAN

Abstract

The experience of stigma of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAA) when accessing care will diminish their confidence in the healthcare system and may adversely affect the efforts for the prevention and halting of the HIV epidemic. This study aimed to determine the perceived Stigmatisation related experiences perpetrated by health workers among persons living with HIV/AIDS in three selected hospitals in Ibadan. Cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select two hundred and fifty-two (252) respondents that participated in the study from three selected hospitals. A semi-structured questionnaire which assessed socio-demographic characteristics, different types Stigmatisation, psychosocial and treatment challenges was used as instrument for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Correlation and logistic regression methods were used for test of significance at p=0.05 level of significance. Respondents age was 36.5±8.8 and 46.8% were within the age range of 30-39 years. Majority (82.1%) of the respondents were females. About 58.0% were Christians and 88.0% were married. Most (42.1%) had post-secondary education followed by secondary education holders (39.3%) and 47.6% were traders. Twenty-nine percent of the respondents reported that they have sexual partners. Many (54.4%) had been living with HIV/AIDS for up to four years. Reasons given by the respondents for taking the HIV test for the first time included: regular sickness (32.5%), referrals due to suspected HIV (11.5%) and regular Ante-Natal Care Investigations (10.3%). Respondents’ reaction when they were first informed about their HIV status includes: fear of stigmatisation (79.8%), panic over death (77.8%). Concern about result disclosure to friends (77.4%), fear of discrimination (76.2%), concern about result disclosure to family members (76.2%). Majority (68.7%) had never experienced stigmatisation/discrimination from health workers and most common (48.0%) was among the nurses. Respondents’ reported experience of derogatory treatment from health workers included: separation of seat from other clients/patients (42.1%). avoided contact (36.9%) and made to pay additional money for health care services (36.5%). Psychosocial problems faced by respondents following discrimination experienced from perpetrators included sadness (28.4%), perplex/confusion (27.9%), worried (24.0%) and sleeplessness (22.1%). Respondents who had ever experienced reduction in social interaction recently were 32.7%, felt being a burden to family/people (44.9%) and experienced reduction in productivity were 35.9%. Challenges encountered by respondents during treatment uptake included: loss of confidence in health workers (43.2%), non-compliance to appointments (52.1%), and missed appointments (30.0%). Respondents’ occupation (p=0.031), hospital setting (p=0.000); reported types - verbal stigmatisation (p=0.000); ridicule stigmatisation p=0.000) and worthless stigmatisation (p=0.024); and psychological and treatment challenges were all significant with respect to experience of stigmatisation/ discrimination. People Living with HIV/AIDS still experience stigma and discrimination in health care setting perpetrated by healthcare workers and this has negative effect on their healthcare uptake. More sensitization programme is needed for the healthcare workers in order to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination