SOCIO DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO STIGMA AMONG HIV/AIDS PATIENTS RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT FROM KAKUUTO HEALTH CENTRE IV
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Date
2024-09-16
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UGANDA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Abstract
In Uganda, evenwith established policies aimed at guiding the national response, stigma and
discrimination continue to obstruct access to and use of HIV and AIDS services, impeding progress
towards the goal of achieving zero discrimination. This study aimed to evaluate the social
demographic factors contributing to stigma among HIV/AIDS clients receiving medical treatment
from Kakuuto Health Centre IV, employing an explanatory study. Purposive and convenient
sampling methods were employed to recruit 230 participants for the study.
The findings revealed that 74% of respondents believed that financial status could impact the
stigmatization process, 87% felt that low education levels fostered HIV/AIDS-related stigma, and
74% viewed cultural beliefs that individuals with HIV/AIDS bring shame to their clan and
community as contributing to stigma. The researcher concluded that socio-economic factors such
as financial status, pre-employment screening, and the absence of clear workplace policies
regarding the care of HIV/AIDS infected individuals were influential in perpetuating stigma.
Additionally, socio-demographic factors like low education levels, gender, age, nationality and
religion contributed to HIV stigma.