Stigmatisation and discrimination against HIV and AIDS: a case study of patients at St. Francis Xavier Hospital at Assin Fosu

Abstract

The study explores the nature of HIV and AIDS stigma felt by PLWHAs and the effect this has on them in the Assin Fosu Municipality. This was pursued through examining the effect of stigma on the PLWHAs and assessing the coping strategies of the PLWHAs. Descriptive and cross-sectional research designs were adopted to study the 256 HIV carriers from the Saint Francis Xavier Hospital at Assin Fosu. Interview schedules were used to collect data from the respondents. Statistical tools used to analyse the data collected included descriptive tools such as means, medians, frequencies, and percentages. Mann-Whitney U test was also used to test for significant differences where applicable and chi-square was used to test for significance in associations where applicable. The study found that the forms of stigma could be describes as internalised stigma, workplace stigma, family-related stigma and stigma/discrimination at health posts. Moreover, the effects of stigma on PLWHAs were internalised, personal, family, community and health related. The coping strategies were mostly adaptive in nature. For example, in order to deal with stigma, most of the respondents chose adopted learning from educational campaigns, participating in HIV programmes, accepting the status quo, and avoiding confrontation. The study recommended further education campaigns, a focus on internal stigma and adopting self-help approaches for HIV carriers.