Descriptive study of HIV/AIDS-related stigma experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in healthcare settings offering family planning and/or HIV services in Kapiri-Mposhi, Zambia

Date
2012-03
Authors
Sinyangwe, George
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Few results are available describing the experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS in health care setting in Zambia. Describing and understanding the experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in health care settings would allow the Zambian health system to improver position health interventions to maximally benefit the PLWHA. The objective of this study is to describe experiences of PLWHA while accessing HIV and family planning services (health care settings) in Kapiri-Mposhi, Zambia from the time they were diagnosed with HIV to 2011. A cross-sectional descriptive study of experiences of PLWHA was conducted while accessing HIV and family planning services (in a health care setting) in Kapiri-Mposhi, Zambia from the time they were diagnosed with HIV to 2011. Data was collected from a convenient sample of 100 PLWHA attending HIV and/or family planning services on the dates of interviews by administering a questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and presented in figures and tables in the text. PLWHA still experience stigma and discrimination in health care setting related to: disclosure of their HIV status without consent, being coerced into taking an HIV test and being denied services, including family planning services. More education is needed for the health care workers in order to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Weinig inligting is beskikbaar aangaande die persoonlike belewenisse van MIV/VIGS pasiënte (verkort as PLWHA) in Zambiese sorgeenhede. Die studie stel dit ten doel om kennis en insig te bekom betreffende die ervarings van pasiënte met die gesinsbeplanningsdienste in Kapiri-Mposhi in Zambië. Die studie fokus op die pasiënte se beskrywing van hul ervarings met die siekte, asook die behandeling ontvang in die sorgeenhede sedert hul eerste diagnose tot en met 2011. „n Deursnee profiel van die pasiënte se ervarings met gesondheidsdienste is bekom deur persoonlike onderhoude te voer met „n gerieflikheidsmonster van een honderd pasiënte. Die persone het ten tye van die ondersoek, gebruik gemaak het van dienste by die sorgeenheid in Kapiri–Mposhi. Die onderhoude is aangevul deur vraelyste. Die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe inligting is verwerk en waar toepaslik verder deur beskrywende statistiese metodes ontleed en grafies toegelig. Inligting verkry deur die toepassing van bogenoemde metodes dui op die volgende: Pasiënte ervaar stigma en diskriminasie in die sorgeenhede omdat hul MIV-status sonder hulle toestemming bekend gemaak word; hulle voel geforseerd om MIV-toetsing te ondergaan; hulle is van mening dat hulle sekere dienste ontsê word en ook nie behoorlike toegang tot gesinsbeplanning ontvang nie. Die studie dui op die noodsaaklikheid vir beter opleiding van gesondheidsdienswerkers ten einde die ervaring van stigma en die persepsie van diskriminasie behoorlik aan te spreek en uit die weg te ruim.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Stigma (Social psychology) -- Zambia, HIV positive persons -- Zambia, AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Zambia, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management
Citation