HIV-related stigma in Karamoja
Document type: mthesis
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Abstract:
Stigma is a dynamic process that varies in intensity and appearance. HIV worsens the stigmatization of groups who are already marginalized. The process of stigma may result in discrimination, also called “enacted stigma”. Stigma may also result in internalized stigma. The person affected accepts that he or she is bad or a devaluated person. PLWHA face challenges in participation in various domains of life. The study took place in Karamoja; the least is developed area of Uganda. The majority live under poverty line and is illiterate. The prevalence of HIV varied from 7.6% in 1994 to 5.9 in 2006. The PLWHA in the central town Kotido told stories about stigmatization. The exact reason was not known. The objective of this study was to identify factors contributing to HIV-related stigma of PLWHA in the communities in Jie County and to give recommendations for programs that aim at the well-being of PLWHA. A questionnaire was developed in Karimojong to measures fear, blame, shame, enacted stigma, internalized stigma, participation of PLWHA and knowledge on HIV. The two native speaking Karimojong conducted the interviews. Mobilisers from the villages, Kacheri, Kanawat, and Rengen invited a convenience sample of people to come for the interviews in a central place in their village. 45 PLWHA in the villages, 232 community members and 76 PLWHA in Kotido town were interviewed. EPI Info was used for statistically analyses. The following conclusions can be made. Women had more knowledge on HIV than men did. Although, the HIV-related stigma among women was less than among men, women with HIV faced more internalized stigma. In Kacheri, were few HBC activities took place, more HIV-related stigma was found compare to Rengen and Kanawat. Despite of the HBC activities, PLWHA in Kanawat had more problems with internalized stigma and reported more on enacted stigma. PLWHA in the villages reported more problems in maintaining their health and livelihood. In contrast, the PLWHA in the Kotido town were more confronted with loss of respect. Knowledge on HIV had influence on the level of fear to contract HIV not on the level of blame and shame. The recommendations that follow from this study are: It is recommended that the needs and challenges of men should be addressed appropriately. PLWHA in the village needs to improve quality of life by sustaining health and income. To decrease HIV-related stigma there is need to focus on blaming and shaming of PLWHA by the community. In order to avoid internalized stigma all PLWHA have a need to empower and to re-build their self-esteem.
Authors:
Dijk, L. van
Country:
Uganda
Category:
Research
Department:
Development Policy & Practice
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute)
Keywords:
HIV and AIDS
,
disease prevention and control
Language:
eng
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
PAGE:
68
Year:
2009
Region:
East Africa
Right:
© 2009 van Dijk
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Title:
HIV-related stigma in Karamoja
Training:
Master in International Health (MIH)