Open AccessStigmatization and discrimination as predictors of self-esteem of people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria
Author(s) -
Dorothy Ebere Adimora,
Eucharia N. Aye,
Immaculata Nwakaego Akaneme,
Edith Nwakaego Nwokenna,
Francis Ekenechukwu Akubuilo
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
african health sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.391
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1729-0503
pISSN - 1680-6905
DOI - 10.4314/ahs.v19i4.39
Subject(s) - self esteem , stigma (botany) , medicine , social stigma , clinical psychology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , affect (linguistics) , cross sectional study , qualitative research , gerontology , psychology , psychiatry , family medicine , social science , communication , pathology , sociology
Background: Self-esteem is a major psychological health issue. People living with HIV and AIDS have been found to be victims of discrimination and stigmatization which affect their self-esteem.Objectives: The study investigated the influence of stigma and discrimination on self-esteem of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV).Methods: The design was a cross-sectional study carried out in four teaching hospitals in south-eastern Nigeria between 13th July 2016 - 11th May 2017. Four hundred and eighty-four (174 males and 310 females) PLHIV participated in the study. Quantitative study supplemented by qualitative in-depth interviews were used to collect data regarding discrimination, stigma and self-esteem of PLHIV whilst a structured questionnaire was used to elicit information about the socio-demographic variables.Results: Stigmatization and discrimination were found to have significant influence on self-esteem of PLHIV. The results indicate that stigmatization and discrimination, together with income, work status, AIDS diagnosis status, and medication use status significantly influence self-esteem of PLHIV. These results imply that stigmatization and discrimination influences on self-esteem among PLHIV.Conclusion: Conclusively, intervention programmes should evolve enlightenment through television, movies, and educational programs that incorporate the ill effects of discrimination and stigma so as to boost self-esteem of PLHIV.Keywords: Intervention; psychological health; poverty; pocial isolation.