HIV-Related Stigma and Self-Care among Young People Living with HIV in Thailand

Sunday, 8 November 2015: 4:00 PM

Benjamas Suksatit, PhD, RN, APN
Department of Medical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Warunee Fongkaew, PhD, RN
Department of Medical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Chiangmai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

This study sought to describe and determine the HIV-related stigma and its impact on self-care among 92 young people living with HIV/AIDS (YPLWH) who were recruited from the network of people living with HIV/AIDS, which operates out of 4 community hospitals in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The theoretical framework for this study was derived from Orem's Self-Care Theory. Data was collected from July 2011 – June 2012, by self-report questionnaires using a demographic data form, the HIV Stigma Scale, and the Self-Care Questionnaire.

This study showed that the mean score of HIV stigma was at a moderate level.  Regarding the subscale of HIV stigma, respondents were most concerned with disclosure to others, followed by personalized stigma (attitudes or experiences of the respondents toward being HIV/AIDS), negative self-image, and public attitude toward people with HIV/AIDS, respectively.  When examining the relationship between HIV stigma and self-care, negative relationship was found between HIV stigma and self-care including, 1) total HIV-related stigma and self-care behaviors (r = -.230, p < .05), 2) total HIV-related stigma and universal self-care  (r = -.270, p < .01), 3) personalized stigma subscale and universal self-care (r = -.236, p < .05), 4) negative self-image subscale and total self-care behaviors (r = -.244, p < .05), 5) negative self-image subscale and universal self-care (r = -.282,  p < .01), 6) concern with public attitudes about people with HIV subscale and total self-care behaviors (r = -.285, p < .01), and 7) concern with public attitudes about people with HIV subscale and universal self-care (r = -.323, p < .01). However, disclosure concerns subscale found no significant relationship with any self-care behaviors. Additionally, HIV-related stigma had no significant correlation with developmental self-care and health-deviated self-care.

The study revealed that HIV stigma might act as a barrier for YPLWH in performing self-care. All stakeholders should participate in enhancing knowledge, understanding, and accepting people living with HIV/AIDS, which will reduce stigmatization toward them. Without fear of being stigmatized, they may perceive the opportunities to perform self-care to maintain life, health, well- being, and be able to live with other people in the community.