HIV/AIDS stigma at the workplace: Exploratory findings from Pakistan

Abstract

People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are stigmatised socially. They are devalued and considered like outcasts by having lesser opportunities for education, treatment and housing, and in an organisational context they get reduced opportunities of selection, promotion and income. The phenomena have been extensively researched in developed countries but limited literature addresses the situation in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan, which is also facing spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. There are a number of groups who are carrying the disease but the problems being faced by PLHA employed in different organisations have rarely been analysed. Stigma at the workplace can generate a number of negative outcomes. The present study considers two such outcomes among stigmatised PLHA. These outcomes are organisational cynicism and breach of psychological contract. A questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 174 PLHA, having a work experience after identification of the epidemic, working in different organisations across Pakistan. These PLHA were identified and recruited through a scattered record available with some government/non-government organisations operating in Pakistan to control HIV/AIDS. Findings of the study extend the knowledge about HIV/AIDS stigma indicating that PLHA are subjected to stigma, which is significantly associated with a breach of psychological contract and organisational cynicism. There is a need at governmental and organisational level as well to increase awareness about the disease and formulate policies to reduce stigma against PLHA working in different organisations.

Stigmatising Attitudes Towards Co-workers with HIV in the Workplace of a Metropolitan State, Southwestern Nigeria

“…The above half prevalence of workers that stigmatize against PLHIV mimics findings in a national survey in which about 50% of the population were in agreement that PLHIV should be ashamed of themselves and should be blamed for bringing the disease to the community [ 15 ] Notwithstanding, the finding of a high level of stigmatising attitude towards co-workers with HIV in the workplace in this study differs from some published studies [ 16 , 17 ]. However, it is in agreement with similar previous studies in South Africa and Pakistan [ 8 , 9 ]. Another remarkable finding from this study was that the respondents were generally knowledgeable about the transmission of HIV and this is consistent with the findings of Pirie and Coetsee in South Africa [ 18 ].…”

“…Besides the employer, other important stakeholders in the workplace who are perpetrators of stigmatising and discriminatory attitudes towards workers living with HIV are co-workers [ 8 , 9 ]. However limited research on employees as the perpetrators of this attitude exists in Nigeria [ 10 ], while more research has been carried out on employers.…”

Cross sectional study on attitudes of Serbian mothers with preschool children: should a HIV-positive female teacher be allowed to continue teaching in school?

“…Several studies show connection among the mental disease, stigma and HIV [ 18 , 53 , 54 ]. Major depressive disorder is three times more common in the HIV-positive population compared to the general population [ 11 , 55 , 56 ].…”

“…Advances in health care, increasing life expectancy of HIV-positive persons, as well as the fact that HIV/AIDS has become a chronic rather than a fatal disease, have resulted in a desire among persons living with HIV to continue to work [ 18 ]. However, along with social stigmatisation, these people face abuse by co-workers and discriminatory behaviour which can result in job-loss leading to unfavourable socio-economic status and inability to meet one’s own basic needs [ 11 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Knowledge of HBV and HCV and Individuals’ Attitudes Toward HBV- and HCV-Infected Colleagues: A National Cross-Sectional Study among a Working Population in Japan

“…However, even health care professionals with high levels of knowledge regarding HBV/HCV showed discrimination towards hepatitis patients. People living with HIV/AIDS are subjected to stigma, which is significantly associated with organizational cynicism [22]. Thus, both education that provident knowledge and problem solving, learning and interactive educational sessions are recommended [2].…”