Abstract Submitted to the International AIDS Conference Washington DC USA July 2012

HIV related stigma: Patterns and Connections with Perceived Risk and Risky Behavior in a Matured HIV Epidemic: a Case study from Uganda

(Abstract submitted to the International AIDS Conference Washington DC USA July 2012)

Background

Ugandawas one of the first nations to report having the HIV virus. With prevalence rates as high as 25% in the 1990s, the country witnessed high AIDS related mortality. Uganda has witnessed a significantdrop in HIV prevalence, currently reporting a prevalence of 6.5%. This study sought to assess the current patterns of HIV stigma and its association with perceived risk and risky sexual behaviors.

Methods

The research comprised of a cross sectional population study that was conducted in 31 Districts in Uganda. Data was collected between November and December 2010 from 2896 men and women between the ages of 15 and 54 years.A multistage sampling approach was used to select respondents. HIV stigma was measured using a battery of questions, including questions on whether respondents thought HIV was a punishment from God, if people with HIV were promiscuous and should be ashamed of themselves as well as whether the respondent would relate with an HIV infected individual on a number of specified activities.

Results

Eighty seven percent of all respondents held at least one stereotype about people with HIV. 12.6% reported holding all stereotyping attitudes analyzed in the survey. 45.6% indicated that they would feeleither very or somewhat uncomfortable relating with somebody they knew had AIDS. 52.9% of respondents reported that they would want to keep it a secret if a member of their family became sick with AIDS, although 95.1% reported that they would be willing to care for a family member suffering from the disease.

Multivariate analysis indicated that individuals with more stigmatizing attitudes were less likely to perceive that they would contract HIV in their lifetime(OR; 0.97, p=0.040). However they were not any more likely to use condoms and did not possess fewer sexual partners. A higher level of stigma also was associated with a lower level of knowledge on HIV transmission.

Conclusions

Despite its long history with HIV, a good proportion of Ugandans still hold negative attitudes towards individuals with HIV. Possession of these attitudes is associated with lower perceived risk for HIV. Continued efforts should be implemented to educate the population on HIV/AIDS.