Stigmatization and discrimination as predictors of self-esteem of people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria

African Health Sciences
Dorothy Ebere AdimoraFrancis Ekenechukwu Akubuilo

Abstract

Self-esteem is a major psychological health issue. People living with HIV and AIDS have been found to be victims of discrimination and stigmatization which affect their self-esteem. The study investigated the influence of stigma and discrimination on self-esteem of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV). The design was a cross-sectional study carried out in four teaching hospitals in south-eastern Nigeria between 13th July 2016 - 11th May 2017. Four hundred and eighty-four (174 males and 310 females) PLHIV participated in the study. Quantitative study supplemented by qualitative in-depth interviews were used to collect data regarding discrimination, stigma and self-esteem of PLHIV whilst a structured questionnaire was used to elicit information about the socio-demographic variables. Stigmatization and discrimination were found to have significant influence on self-esteem of PLHIV. The results indicate that stigmatization and discrimination, together with income, work status, AIDS diagnosis status, and medication use status significantly influence self-esteem of PLHIV. These results imply that stigmatization and discrimination influences on self-esteem among PLHIV. Conclusively, intervention programmes should evolve enlightenme...Continue Reading

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