HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon

Ngwi Constance Tamungang; Nde Fon Peter; Ndeso x Fon Peter; Mary Bi Suh Atanga

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11

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HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon

Ngwi Constance Tamungang, Nde Fon Peter, Ndeso x Fon Peter, Mary Bi Suh Atanga

Published in American Journal of Life Sciences (Volume 8, Issue 1)

Received: 6 December 2018 Accepted: 25 December 2018 Published: 23 March 2020

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Abstract

The background to thr article is that, the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) - related stigma tends to create a vicious cycle of fear, ignorance, mistrust, misinformation, denial and self-isolation, which tend to further spread the virus because stigma affects the way people will take their treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the forms of stigma, and determine the role of stigma and other factors among HIV and the Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients on Anti- Retroviral Therapy (ART) in Limbe Health District. For the method, a cross-sectional design with a sample size of 389 was used. Interviewer- administered questionnaire was used to collect data from HIV and AIDS patients belonging to HIV support groups in Limbe Health District found at the treatment centre of the Limbe Regional Hospital. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, forms of stigma and factors in association. Data was analyzed using STATA version 7.0. Results have shown that in all, stigma was experienced by 76.7% respondents. Among this group, self-stigma was experienced by 95% of the respondents while 28% experienced external stigma. Majority of respondents (92.8%) admitted it was not easy to disclose their status, 7.2% felt dirty while 20.05% felt guilty of contracting HIV. Association of overall stigma with adherence to treatment showed no statistical significance, however respondents who did not experience self-stigma were more adherent (76.9%) than those who experienced overall stigma (71.01%). It can thus be concluded that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) belonging to HIV support groups in LHD experienced both internalized and external stigma, with the former experienced by almost all the respondents. Although stigma was not significantly associated with adherence to treatment, the very high level of internalized stigma warrants the implementation of stigma reduction measures.

Published in	American Journal of Life Sciences (Volume 8, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11
Page(s)	1-8
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

HIV/AIDS, Stigma Experiences, Effects

References

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[4]	Nam SL, Fielding K, Avalos A, Dickinson D, Gaolathe T, Geissler PW. The relationship of acceptance or denial of HIV-status to antiretroviral adherence among adult HIV patients in urban Botswana. SocSci Med 1982. 2008; 67 (2): 301–10.
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[7]	Laura Nyblade. Can we measure HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination? Current knowledge about quantifying stigma in developing countries. USAID; 2006.
[8]	Mbuagbaw L, Thabane L, Ongolo-Zogo P, Yondo D, Noorduyn S, Smieja M, et al. Trends and determining factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Cameroon: a systematic review and analysis of the CAMPS trial. AIDS Res Ther. 2012; 9 (1): 1–10.
[9]	Jacobi CA, Atanga PNJI, Bin LK, Mbome VN, Akam W, Bogner JR, et al. HIV/AIDS-related stigma felt by people living with HIV from Buea, Cameroon. AIDS Care. 2013; 25 (2): 173–80.
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[15]	Yuri Sasaki. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), self-stigma and depression among people living with HIV (PLWH) in rural Zambia. [Japan]: university of Tokyo; 2012.
[16]	Okoli CI, Cleary SM. Socioeconomic status and barriers to the use of free antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS in Enugu State, south-eastern Nigeria. Afr J AIDS Res. 2011. Available from: http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajar/article/view/67144.
[17]	Sayles JN, Wong MD, Kinsler JJ, Martins D, Cunningham WE. The Association of Stigma with Self-Reported Access to Medical Care and Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence in Persons Living with HIV/AIDS. J Gen Intern Med. 2009; 24 (10): 1101–8.
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APA Style

Ngwi Constance Tamungang, Nde Fon Peter, Ndeso x Fon Peter, Mary Bi Suh Atanga. (2020). HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon. American Journal of Life Sciences, 8(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11

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ACS Style

Ngwi Constance Tamungang; Nde Fon Peter; Ndeso x Fon Peter; Mary Bi Suh Atanga. HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon. Am. J. Life Sci. 2020, 8(1), 1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11

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AMA Style

Ngwi Constance Tamungang, Nde Fon Peter, Ndeso x Fon Peter, Mary Bi Suh Atanga. HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon. Am J Life Sci. 2020;8(1):1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11,
  author = {Ngwi Constance Tamungang and Nde Fon Peter and Ndeso x Fon Peter and Mary Bi Suh Atanga},
  title = {HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon},
  journal = {American Journal of Life Sciences},
  volume = {8},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-8},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajls.20200801.11},
  abstract = {The background to thr article is that, the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) - related stigma tends to create a vicious cycle of fear, ignorance, mistrust, misinformation, denial and self-isolation, which tend to further spread the virus because stigma affects the way people will take their treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the forms of stigma, and determine the role of stigma and other factors among HIV and the Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients on Anti- Retroviral Therapy (ART) in Limbe Health District. For the method, a cross-sectional design with a sample size of 389 was used. Interviewer- administered questionnaire was used to collect data from HIV and AIDS patients belonging to HIV support groups in Limbe Health District found at the treatment centre of the Limbe Regional Hospital. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, forms of stigma and factors in association. Data was analyzed using STATA version 7.0. Results have shown that in all, stigma was experienced by 76.7% respondents. Among this group, self-stigma was experienced by 95% of the respondents while 28% experienced external stigma. Majority of respondents (92.8%) admitted it was not easy to disclose their status, 7.2% felt dirty while 20.05% felt guilty of contracting HIV. Association of overall stigma with adherence to treatment showed no statistical significance, however respondents who did not experience self-stigma were more adherent (76.9%) than those who experienced overall stigma (71.01%). It can thus be concluded that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) belonging to HIV support groups in LHD experienced both internalized and external stigma, with the former experienced by almost all the respondents. Although stigma was not significantly associated with adherence to treatment, the very high level of internalized stigma warrants the implementation of stigma reduction measures.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon
AU  - Ngwi Constance Tamungang
AU  - Nde Fon Peter
AU  - Ndeso x Fon Peter
AU  - Mary Bi Suh Atanga
Y1  - 2020/03/23
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11
T2  - American Journal of Life Sciences
JF  - American Journal of Life Sciences
JO  - American Journal of Life Sciences
SP  - 1
EP  - 8
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5737
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11
AB  - The background to thr article is that, the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) - related stigma tends to create a vicious cycle of fear, ignorance, mistrust, misinformation, denial and self-isolation, which tend to further spread the virus because stigma affects the way people will take their treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the forms of stigma, and determine the role of stigma and other factors among HIV and the Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients on Anti- Retroviral Therapy (ART) in Limbe Health District. For the method, a cross-sectional design with a sample size of 389 was used. Interviewer- administered questionnaire was used to collect data from HIV and AIDS patients belonging to HIV support groups in Limbe Health District found at the treatment centre of the Limbe Regional Hospital. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, forms of stigma and factors in association. Data was analyzed using STATA version 7.0. Results have shown that in all, stigma was experienced by 76.7% respondents. Among this group, self-stigma was experienced by 95% of the respondents while 28% experienced external stigma. Majority of respondents (92.8%) admitted it was not easy to disclose their status, 7.2% felt dirty while 20.05% felt guilty of contracting HIV. Association of overall stigma with adherence to treatment showed no statistical significance, however respondents who did not experience self-stigma were more adherent (76.9%) than those who experienced overall stigma (71.01%). It can thus be concluded that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) belonging to HIV support groups in LHD experienced both internalized and external stigma, with the former experienced by almost all the respondents. Although stigma was not significantly associated with adherence to treatment, the very high level of internalized stigma warrants the implementation of stigma reduction measures.
VL  - 8
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Ngwi Constance Tamungang

Department of Public Health & Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
Nde Fon Peter

Department of Public Health & Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
Ndeso x Fon Peter

Department of Nursing and Allied Health science, St Monica University, Buea, Cameroon
Mary Bi Suh Atanga

Department of Nursing/Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon

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APA Style

Ngwi Constance Tamungang, Nde Fon Peter, Ndeso x Fon Peter, Mary Bi Suh Atanga. (2020). HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon. American Journal of Life Sciences, 8(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11

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ACS Style

Ngwi Constance Tamungang; Nde Fon Peter; Ndeso x Fon Peter; Mary Bi Suh Atanga. HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon. Am. J. Life Sci. 2020, 8(1), 1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11

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AMA Style

Ngwi Constance Tamungang, Nde Fon Peter, Ndeso x Fon Peter, Mary Bi Suh Atanga. HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon. Am J Life Sci. 2020;8(1):1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11,
  author = {Ngwi Constance Tamungang and Nde Fon Peter and Ndeso x Fon Peter and Mary Bi Suh Atanga},
  title = {HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon},
  journal = {American Journal of Life Sciences},
  volume = {8},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-8},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajls.20200801.11},
  abstract = {The background to thr article is that, the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) - related stigma tends to create a vicious cycle of fear, ignorance, mistrust, misinformation, denial and self-isolation, which tend to further spread the virus because stigma affects the way people will take their treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the forms of stigma, and determine the role of stigma and other factors among HIV and the Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients on Anti- Retroviral Therapy (ART) in Limbe Health District. For the method, a cross-sectional design with a sample size of 389 was used. Interviewer- administered questionnaire was used to collect data from HIV and AIDS patients belonging to HIV support groups in Limbe Health District found at the treatment centre of the Limbe Regional Hospital. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, forms of stigma and factors in association. Data was analyzed using STATA version 7.0. Results have shown that in all, stigma was experienced by 76.7% respondents. Among this group, self-stigma was experienced by 95% of the respondents while 28% experienced external stigma. Majority of respondents (92.8%) admitted it was not easy to disclose their status, 7.2% felt dirty while 20.05% felt guilty of contracting HIV. Association of overall stigma with adherence to treatment showed no statistical significance, however respondents who did not experience self-stigma were more adherent (76.9%) than those who experienced overall stigma (71.01%). It can thus be concluded that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) belonging to HIV support groups in LHD experienced both internalized and external stigma, with the former experienced by almost all the respondents. Although stigma was not significantly associated with adherence to treatment, the very high level of internalized stigma warrants the implementation of stigma reduction measures.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - HIV Related Stigma Among People Living with HIV and AIDS in Limbe Health District, Cameroon
AU  - Ngwi Constance Tamungang
AU  - Nde Fon Peter
AU  - Ndeso x Fon Peter
AU  - Mary Bi Suh Atanga
Y1  - 2020/03/23
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11
T2  - American Journal of Life Sciences
JF  - American Journal of Life Sciences
JO  - American Journal of Life Sciences
SP  - 1
EP  - 8
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5737
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20200801.11
AB  - The background to thr article is that, the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) - related stigma tends to create a vicious cycle of fear, ignorance, mistrust, misinformation, denial and self-isolation, which tend to further spread the virus because stigma affects the way people will take their treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the forms of stigma, and determine the role of stigma and other factors among HIV and the Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients on Anti- Retroviral Therapy (ART) in Limbe Health District. For the method, a cross-sectional design with a sample size of 389 was used. Interviewer- administered questionnaire was used to collect data from HIV and AIDS patients belonging to HIV support groups in Limbe Health District found at the treatment centre of the Limbe Regional Hospital. Data was collected on socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, forms of stigma and factors in association. Data was analyzed using STATA version 7.0. Results have shown that in all, stigma was experienced by 76.7% respondents. Among this group, self-stigma was experienced by 95% of the respondents while 28% experienced external stigma. Majority of respondents (92.8%) admitted it was not easy to disclose their status, 7.2% felt dirty while 20.05% felt guilty of contracting HIV. Association of overall stigma with adherence to treatment showed no statistical significance, however respondents who did not experience self-stigma were more adherent (76.9%) than those who experienced overall stigma (71.01%). It can thus be concluded that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) belonging to HIV support groups in LHD experienced both internalized and external stigma, with the former experienced by almost all the respondents. Although stigma was not significantly associated with adherence to treatment, the very high level of internalized stigma warrants the implementation of stigma reduction measures.
VL  - 8
IS  - 1
ER  -

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