One Year After ART Initiation: Psychosocial Factors Associated with Stigma Among HIV-Positive Mozambicans

Abstract

The pathways through which stigma is associated with psychological distress remains understudied in Africa. This study evaluates stigma among 277 Mozambicans who were on an antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens for a full year. Using bivariate and multiple regression analyses, we examine psychosocial factors (disclosure decisions, perceived social support, and depression) associated with stigma, at ART initiation and one year later. We found one year after initiating ART, participants reported no change in stigma, a decreased in perceived social support, and an increase in depressive symptomology. Disclosing HIV status to friends (vs. family or partner) was associated with lower levels of stigma. These findings suggest that HIV care in comparable settings should include counselling, support groups, and peer support, that includes stigma and disclosure concerns prior to and during the first year following diagnosis. Most importantly, assessment and treatment of depression should be incorporated into ongoing HIV care.

Stigma and Discrimination faced by HIV-infected Adults on Antiretroviral Therapy for more than 1 Year in Raichur Taluk, Karnataka, India

“…29 Such an association was also suggested in different studies across the world. 15,17,21,22,30 The fear of losing jobs, verbal abuse, and family and social rejection was main reasons for nondisclosure in the study population, same as other studies. 8,31 According to Mbonu et al, 28 stigma and resultant depression could be a major cause for more risky behavior among the people.…”

“…19 There was no association of age with discrimination unlike the findings of a study among older US adults above 50 years who faced depression due to stigma. 20 Less social support for people on ART was suggested by Pearson et al 21 Furthermore, the past studies have associated stigma with delay in seeking treatment. 22 The people of Raichur faced lesser discrimination compared with the study population in Africa, 23 where 23.8%…”

Factors Associated With Perceived Stigma Among People Living With HIV/AIDS in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda

“…Respondents who were White (vs. Latinos and African American), those who had higher education, and those who had an HIV positive test for longer had higher levels of perceived discrimination. In Mozambique, stigma was associated with increased depression and decreased social support but not with adherence, CD4 count, education, income, working status or education status (Pearson et al, 2009).…”

Associação entre depressão, níveis de dor e falta de apoio social em pacientes internados em enfermarias de clínica médica

“…Ou seja, além de se isolarem, ainda não perceberam o apoio que tinham. Provavelmente esse mesmo fenômeno aconteceu com um grupo de pacientes em uso de terapia antirretroviral que, em um ano de seguimento, apresentou concomitantemente aumento na sintomatologia depressiva e diminuição nos níveis de apoio social 14 . Entre idosos com quadros dolorosos, a rede social e o estado funcional parecem estar mais relacionados com a depressão do que com a dor objetiva propriamente dita 15 .…”