measuring hiv stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings
DESCRIPTION
This study was presented at the Satellite Meeting 08 (organized by the International Labour Organization) of the 11th ICAAP held at Queen Sirikith Convention Centre, Bangkok, Thailand from 18-22 November 2013. The e-poster of the study was also displayed during the congressTRANSCRIPT
www.ilo.org/aids
Background
Methods
Results
Conclusions
A convenience sample of 832 healthcare workers from six major public sector hospitals in Colombo participated in this study. The workers
surveyed included: 130 physicians, 205 nurses, 92 medical laboratory technicians, 154 attendants and 251 labourers. The categories of
health workers in the sample were proportional to the actual size of these health workers in the country. A stigma index was developed aimed
at quantifying levels of stigma among health workers against PLHIV. The internal consistency of the scale was 0.711 (Cronbach’s alpha).
Responses to the stigma index were scaled using the Likert scale: [Agree (1), Can’t say (2), Disagree (3)]. The Index scores ranged from 20 to
60. Higher scores indicated higher levels of stigma. The data was analysed using SPSS v16.
The median age of the sample was 41 years (SD, 10.6 years). The healthcare workers surveyed had an average of 15 years of work
experience in their respective jobs. Over 60% had provided care to an HIV-positive patient. The median score for the stigma index was 38 (46%
in percentage scale) and ranged from 36 to 40 (40%-50%). The stigma index was further calculated against the category of staff. The stigma
index score among doctors and nurses was 39, while medical laboratory technicians, attendants and labourers had an approximate stigma
score of 38, 36 and 37 respectively (p=0.000).
The stigma index score among health care workers ranged from 36-40. These findings indicate that significant levels of HIV-related stigma
are present in healthcare settings, demonstrating the prevalence of discriminatory attitudes among healthcare workers towards PLHIV which
created barriers to services Kam Ariyaratne, National STD/AIDS Control Programme M Gunathilake, National STD/AIDS Control Programme
D Karawita, National STD/AIDS Control ProgrammeIndira Hettiarachchi, ILO Sri Lanka, [email protected]
Chang Kun Yirenping Legal Aid Association, China, [email protected] Howard,ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, [email protected]
Protect Human Rights at Work Prevent HIV
Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS-Related Deaths. Implement the ILO Recommendation on HIV and AIDS (No. 200)
Stigma among healthcare workers against people living with HIV in Sri Lanka
HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination is a significant barrier that prevents people living with HIV (PLHIV) from accessing prevention
information, treatment, care and support services. This study aims to quantify the level of stigma among healthcare workers against PLHIV in
Sri Lanka.