The Stigma Of Being Hiv Patients In North Central Nigeria: Socio-Economic And Cultural Factors
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Date
2021-04
Authors
Bala, Nalah Augustine
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
HIV stigma constitutes a discriminatory and dehumanizing attitude experienced by HIV patients, affecting the social, physical, mental, and psychological well-being. This study aims to provide a detailed descriptive analysis of the influence of socio-demographic variables like socio-cultural, socioeconomic, education, religion, and gender inequality as determinants of the stigma of being HIV patients. The population centered on diagnosed and admitted outpatients from selected Federal Medical Centers (FMC) Keffi, General Hospitals Akwanga (GHA), and Dalhatu Araf Specialists Hospital (DASH) Lafia, all designated for the HIV care across Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. The sample comprises male and female aged 18 consented to be stigmatized for being HIV patients. In this qualitative phenomenological based study, a non-randomize technique using a purposive sampling technique to select 20 samples from hospitals designated to handling HIV cases in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. Data collection utilized an in-depth face to face interview using an audio recorder and field notes. A Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) using ATLAS.ti8 to analyze the unstructured data collected through audiotape, note-taking, and all other field data. The ATLAS.ti8 analyzes and code interview transcripts by systematically converting, transcribing, and presenting data into a textual form using thematic analysis. The coded data were presented graphically through thematic network analysis to visualize the themes, sub-themes, and quotations by designing the psychosocial model of HIV stigma from the findings. The findings indicate that the patriarchal and polygamous are key socio-cultural variables contributing to the stigma of being HIV patients by encouraging gender inequality, social rejection, and harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation, and sexual intercourse during menstruation without protection as blood covenant. Also, the finding found that some parents encourage girl-child early marriage and premature relationships due to a high poverty rate, malnutrition, illiteracy, food insecurity, economic inequality, and low socioeconomic status. The finding also indicates the perceived fear of disclosing HIV status, divorce, sexual violence, and forced marriage among young girls and women due to gender inequality, thereby increase stigmatization and HIV infection. The study recommends that the social workers and behavioral scientists employ behavioral-based intervention strategies including social support, coping mechanisms, vocational skills training, training health personnel, public awareness campaigns against stigmatization and HIV/AIDS.
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Keywords
Social sciences