REVIEW PAPER
Impact of stigma on HIV treatment seeking behavior among the youth living with HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: critical review of literature
 
More details
Hide details
1
Makerere University, Uganda
 
2
Gothenburg University, Sweden
 
 
Submission date: 2019-08-06
 
 
Final revision date: 2020-09-25
 
 
Acceptance date: 2020-09-28
 
 
Publication date: 2021-06-30
 
 
HIV & AIDS Review 2021;20(2):90-95
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
An estimated 11.8 million youths in sub-Saharan Africa are living with HIV and AIDS, and more than one-half of those newly infected with HIV today are between 18 and 24 years. This study reviewed research assessing the impact of stigma on HIV treatment seeking behavior among youths in sub-Saharan Africa. The review highlighted particular stigma issues that young people face. Also, it analyzed the causes and consequences of stigma, and identified skills to cope with stigma and to build modalities for a change of behavior. The review include original articles published between 1988 and 2019 on HIV and AIDS stigma, which were found on various internet sites. The review determined that in developing countries, social and economic factors have an impact on HIV infection, including mainly older grandparents and their role as caregivers of orphaned children as a result of parental HIV infection. Therefore, there is a  need to incorporate culturally sensitive modalities that assure target populations’ ability to respond to local understandings of key issues associated with HIV and AIDS stigmatization. Stigma among the youth remains a barrier to all essential components, which constitute a good prevention program, and much detailed research on stigma reduction is required to improve components of a good prevention program. Health education campaigns should integrate a change from fear to care for people living with HIV/AIDS, especially among healthcare personnel. More prevention activities should be situated in rural and remote areas of each country than in urban locations, as currently in Nigeria. Since most of the population resides in rural areas, it is most appropriate to concentrate these programs in such locations.
 
REFERENCES (43)
1.
Williams CKO. Global HIV/AIDS burden and associated diseases. In: Cancer and AIDS. Springer, 2019; 59-96.
 
2.
Xie T, Yang JP, Simoni JM, et al. Unable to be a human being in front of other people: a qualitative study of self-isolation among people living with HIV/AIDS in China. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2017; 24: 211-222.
 
3.
Mbonu NC, van den Borne B, De Vries NK. Stigma of people with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa: a literature review. J Tropic Med 2009; 2009: 145891.
 
4.
Hiregoudar V, Raghavendra B, Karinagannavar A, Khan W, Kamble S, Goud TG. Proportion and determinants of tuberculosis among human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients attending the antiretroviral therapy center attached to a Medical College in South India. J Family Community Med 2016;.
 
5.
23: 88-93.
 
6.
Goldberg RE, Short SE. What do we know about children living with HIV-infected or AIDS-ill adults in Sub-Saharan Africa? A systematic review of the literature. AIDS Care 2016; 28 (Suppl 2): 130-141.
 
7.
Day C. Children and young people as providers of care: perceptions of caregivers and young caregiving in Zambia. In: Horton J, Pyer M (eds.). Children, Young People and Care. Routledge, London 2017; 144-157.
 
8.
Muyinda H, Seeley J, Pickering H, Barton T. Social aspects of AIDS- related stigma in rural Uganda. Health Place 1997; 3: 143-147.
 
9.
Steen R, Hontelez JA, Mugurungi O, et al. Economy, migrant labour and sex work: interplay of HIV epidemic drivers in Zimbabwe over three decades. AIDS 2019; 33: 123-131.
 
10.
Wei W, Li X, Tu X, Zhao J, Zhao G. Perceived social support, hopefulness, and emotional regulations as mediators of the relationship between enacted stigma and post-traumatic growth among children affected by parental HIV/AIDS in rural China. AIDS Care 2016; 28 Suppl 1: 99-105.
 
11.
Matos P, Gonçalves V, Jordan P. Therapeutic approaches targeting the serrated pathway of colorectal cancer characterized by mutation in the BRAF gene and overexpression of GTPase Rac1b. In: Cho ChH (ed.). Therapeutic Targets for Inflammation and Cancer: Novel Therapies for Digestive Diseases. World Scientific 2017; 233-255.
 
12.
Mprah A. Knowledge, opinions, and experiences of stigma as a barrier to antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV community volunteers and health care givers in an urban slum, in Uganda. Ann Trop Med Public Health 2016; 9: 331-339.
 
13.
Parker R, Aggleton P. HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination: a conceptual framework and implications for action. Soc Sci Med 2003; 57: 13-24.
 
14.
Rueda S, Mitra S, Chen S, et al. Examining the associations between HIV-related stigma and health outcomes in people living with HIV/AIDS: a series of meta-analyses. BMJ Open 2016; 6: e011453.
 
15.
Goffman E. Stigma: notes on the management of spoiled identity. A Spectrum book. Englewood Cliffs, Prentice-Hall 1963.
 
16.
Thornicroft G, Mehta N, Clement S, et al. Evidence for effective interventions to reduce mental-health-related stigma and discrimination. Lancet 2016; 387: 1123-1132.
 
17.
Dahourou DL, Gautier-Lafaye C, Teasdale CA, et al. Transition from paediatric to adult care of adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: challenges, youth-friendly models, and outcomes.
 
18.
J Int AIDS Soc 2017; 20: 21528.
 
19.
Eldredge LKB, Markham CM, Ruiter RA, Kok G, Fernandez ME, Parcel GS. Planning health promotion programs: an intervention mapping approach. John Wiley & Sons, 2016.
 
20.
Bernays S, Paparini S, Seeley J, Kihika SN, Gibb D, Rhodes T. Qualitative study of the BREATHER trial (Short Cycle antiretroviral therapy): is it acceptable to young people living with HIV? BMJ Open 2017; 7: e012934.
 
21.
Pantelic M, Shenderovich Y, Cluver L, Boyes M. Predictors of internalised HIV-related stigma: a systematic review of studies in sub-Saharan Africa. Health Psychol Rev 2015; 9: 469-490.
 
22.
Adejumo OA, Malee KM, Ryscavage P, Hunter SJ, Taiwo BO. Contemporary issues on the epidemiology and antiretroviral adherence of HIV-infected adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: a narrative review. J Int AIDS Soc 2015; 18: 20049.
 
23.
Bloch S. HIV in Ukraine: An everlasting epidemic? Assessment of knowledge, behaviour change, tolerance towards people living with HIV and accessibility of healthcare services for HIV among adolescent girls and young women in Ukraine. 2018. Available at: https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-....
 
24.
Babalola S, Van Lith LM, Mallalieu EC, et al. A framework for health.
 
25.
communication across the HIV treatment continuum. J Acquir Immune Def Syndr 2017; 74 (Suppl 1): S5-S14.
 
26.
Hollis C, Falconer CJ, Martin JL, et al. Annual research review: digital health interventions for children and young people with mental health problems – a systematic and meta-review. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2017; 58: 474-503.
 
27.
Lin YC, Dhaliwal JS, Kong AZH, Chan LG, Tan PLL. HIV-related stigma as perceived by HIV-positive individuals in Singapore. HIV AIDS Rev 2017; 16: 176-182.
 
28.
Oladeinde BH, Omoregie R, Odia I, Osakue EO. Public knowledge of HIV/AIDS in three rural communities of Nigeria. Soc Work Public Health 2017; 32: 131-140.
 
29.
Kashtoori S, Sumarni M, Kee C, Lim K, Normala I. Knowledge on modes of HIV transmission and attitude related to working with people living with HIV among health care trainees in Malaysia. Int J Public Health Clin Sci 2016; 3: 46-56.
 
30.
Wodajo BS. HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination reduction-intervention strategy in health care settings of Amahara Region, Ethiopia. 2015. Available at: https://1library.net/document/....
 
31.
Kuteesa MO, Seeley J, Weiss HA, Cook S, Kamali A, Webb EL. Alcohol misuse and illicit drug use among occupational groups at high risk of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. AIDS Behav 2019; 23: 3199-3225.
 
32.
Adelekan M. A critical review of the effectiveness of educational interventions applied in HIV/AIDS prevention. Patient Educ Couns 2017; 100 Suppl 1: S11-S16.
 
33.
Ngcobo SJ. Short term outcomes of an HIV and AIDS medical education partnership initiative (MEPI) clinical programme for nursing students in a selected site: a descriptive evaluation study. 2015.
 
34.
Monjok E, Smesny A, Okokon IB, Mgbere O, Essien E. Adherence to anti-retroviral therapy in Nigeria: an overview of research studies and implications for policyand practice. HIV/AIDS 2010; 2: 69-76.
 
35.
Olowookere S, Fatiregun A, Ladipo M, Abioye-Kuteyi E, Adewole I. Effects of adherence to antiretroviral therapy on body mass index, immunological and virological status of Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS. Alexandria Journal of Medicine 2016; 52: 51-54.
 
36.
Wu Z, Tang Z, Mao Y, et al. Testing and linkage to HIV care in China: a cluster-randomised trial. Lancet HIV 2017; 4: e555-e565.
 
37.
Monjok E, Smesny A, Essien EJ. HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in Nigeria: review of research studies and future directions for prevention strategies. Afr J Reprod Health 2009; 13: 21-35.
 
38.
Chakrapani V, Newman PA, Shunmugam M, Dubrow R. Barriers to free antiretroviral treatment access among Kothi-identified men who have sex with men and Aravanis (transgender women) in Chennai, India. AIDS Care 2011; 23: 1687-1694.
 
39.
Makoae LN, Portillo CJ, Uys LR, et al. The impact of taking or not taking ARVs on HIV stigma as reported by persons living with HIV infection in five African countries. Source National University of Lesotho, Lesotho 2009.
 
40.
Dahlui M, Azahar N, Bulgiba A, et al. HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination against PLWHA in Nigerian population. PLoS One 2015; 10: e0143749.
 
41.
Anigilaje EA, Ageda BR, Nweke NO. Barriers to uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services among mothers of vertically infected HIV-seropositive infants in Makurdi, Nigeria. Patient Prefer Adherence 2016; 10: 57-72.
 
42.
Gerassi L, Jonson-Reid M, Drake B. Sexually transmitted infections in a sample of at-risk youth: Roles of mental health and trauma histories. J Child Adolesc Trauma 2016; 9: 209-216.
 
43.
Jozkowski KN, Crawford BL. The status of reproductive and sexual health in southern USA: Policy recommendations for improving health outcomes. Sex Res Soc Policy 2016; 13: 252-262.
 
eISSN:1732-2707
ISSN:1730-1270
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top