“My Friend with HIV Remains a Friend”: HIV/AIDS Stigma Reduction through Education in Secondary Schools—A Pilot Project in Buea, Cameroon

Abstract

The universal access to treatment and care for people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is still a major problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where 70% of HIV-infected people live. Equally important is the fact that HIV/AIDS-related stigma is recognized to be a major obstacle to successfully control the spread of this disease. We devised a pilot project (titled "My friend with HIV remains a friend") to fight the HIV/AIDS stigmatization through educating secondary school students by openly HIV-positive teachers. In a first step, we have measured the amount and type of stigma felt by the PLWHIV in Buea/Cameroon using the "The people living with HIV Stigma Index" from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. Gossiping and verbal insults were experienced by 90% of the interviewees, while 9% have experienced physical assaults. Using these data and material from the "Toolkit for action" from the "International Centre for the Research on Women," the teachers educated the students on multiple aspects of HIV/ AIDS and stigma. The teaching curriculum included role-plays, picture visualizations, drawing, and other forms of interactions like visits to HIV and AIDS treatment units. Before and after this intervention, the students undertook "True/False" examinations on HIV/AIDS and stigma. We compared these results with results from students from another school, who did not participate in this intervention. We were able to show that the students taking part in the intervention improved by almost 20% points in comparison to the other students. Their results did not change.

Factors associated with external HIV-related stigma and psychological distress among people living with HIV in South Africa

“…HIV-related stigma has been associated with a lack of proper information regarding the spread of the disease and fear ( Boushab et al, 2017 ). It has been demonstrated that increased education reduced stigma ( Pulerwitz et al, 2010 ; Jacobi et al, 2020 ). Hence, the need to have more HIV education and skill building strategies.…”

Intrapersonal predictors of internalized stigma among school going adolescents living with HIV in southwestern Uganda

“…Unintended disclosure of their HIV status may aggravate HIV stigma and bullying (both physical and verbal abuse), resulting in a lack of social support that negatively impacts ART adherence, while others drop out of school to remain in HIV care. (Ashaba et al, 2019; Jacobi et al, 2020; Kihumuro et al, 2021; Kimera et al, 2020). This is further worsened by the developmental stage where adolescents are beginning to form identity and value their peer relationships as they grow toward maturity and independence since these are important immediate sources of social and emotional support in boarding school (Folayan et al, 2014).…”

Stigma and infectious diseases in Africa: examining impact and strategies for reduction

“…Future plans involve intensifying awareness campaigns, integrating mental health support into primary care, enhancing data collection, fostering international collaboration, and reducing stigma in healthcare practices 27 , 28 . These efforts, geared towards a stigma-free future, reflect a steadfast commitment to tackling stigma and promoting awareness as integral components of public health initiatives across Africa 29 . Public-private partnerships addressing infectious diseases in Africa also incorporate stigma reduction, although to varying degrees, through initiatives such as public awareness campaigns and community engagement 30 .…”

“…The ultimate objective is to eradicate the stigma associated with infectious diseases, making inclusivity a top priority. Regular progress assessments and knowledge sharing among nations will further strengthen this collective effort to reduce stigma and foster understanding throughout Africa 29 , 45 .…”