Perceived Stigma and Discrimination among People Living with HIV / AIDS attending Snehatheeram Rehabilitation Programme

Background

The pandemic of HIV/AIDS has emerged as a very important public health problem in India and the rest of the world. Even though effective treatment has significantly improved the life expectancy and quality of life of People Living with HIV / AIDS (PLHAs), the social problems posed by the disease is wrecking havoc world over. Stigma and Discrimination towards PLHAs is the most prominent social problem and has come to be known as the Second Pandemic of the disease.

Tamil Nadu is the state with the highest prevalence of HIV positivity in the country. Most PLHAs in Tamil Nadu come from the lower socioeconomic category. Ignorance about the disease is very high among the population. So is the stigma associated with the disease. Organisations like Snehatheeram have gone a long way in rehabilitating PLHAs. Very often rehabilitation programmes help PLHAs cope better with stigma and discrimination.

Objectives

1. To measure the perceived stigma and discrimination experienced by People Living with HIV / AIDS attending Snehatheeram Rehabilitation Programme.
2. To ascertain the areas of life in which they experience higher degrees of discrimination.
3. To assess if attending the rehabilitation programme has helped them in better coping with stigma and discrimination.

Methods

This descriptive study was conducted among a sample of 75 PLHAs attending Snehatheeram Rehabilitation Programme. Data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Questions were categorized as Disclosure, Family, Community, Work Place, Healthcare and Support Groups. Scores were calculated to measure perceived stigma and discrimination and comparison was done between different parameters.

Results – More than 80% of the subjects have experienced Stigma and Discrimination in some fields of their life. Discrimination in the Family and at Work Place was found to be higher than that from the community (p-value – 0.03). This could be due to the significantly poor disclosure rate to the community (p-value – 0.000). More than 50% of the participants reported to have befitted in better coping with stigma and discrimination by attending the rehabilitation programme.

Conclusion – Prevalence of Stigma and Discrimination is high. More from people who are closer to them like relatives and colleagues than from those who are distant. Attending rehabilitation programmes help in better coping with stigma and discrimination.