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