Effect of an Interventional Program on Reducing HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma and Discrimination among Health Care Providers in Surgical Departments at Zagazig University Hospital

Abstract

Background: HIV stigma and discrimination exist worldwide. It is present even in the healthcare sector. Objective: To assess the effect of an interventional program on reducing HIV stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in surgical departments at Zagazig University Hospital. Method: An interventional study was conducted in two surgical departments at Zagazig University Hospital on 124 randomly selected healthcare providers over 14 months through three phases: assessment, implementation and evaluation, using a comprehensive questionnaire for measuring HIV stigma and discrimination and an observation sheet for discriminatory behavior. Results: After intervention, there was a significant reduction in percent of participants who were worried to contact HIV patients during all activities except drawing blood (p=0.55) and assisting in labor of HIV positive woman (p=0.09), those who used extra-infection control measures when caring for HIV patients (p<0.001) and those who were hesitant to work alongside HIV co-worker (p=0.04). There was a significant increase in percent of participants who agreed on presence of adequate health facility policies protecting them from HIV (p<0.001) and HIV-positive women's right to have babies (p<0.001). Conclusion: This interventional program was effective in reducing most of the healthcare providers' stigmatizing attitudes and discriminatory practices towards HIV patients.