Fear of stigmatization as barrier to voluntary HIV counselling and testing in South Africa.

@article{Meiberg2008FearOS,
  title={Fear of stigmatization as barrier to voluntary HIV counselling and testing in South Africa.},
  author={Annemarie E Meiberg and Arjan E. R. Bos and Hans E. Onya and Herman P. Schaalma},
  journal={East African journal of public health},
  year={2008},
  volume={5 2},
  pages={
          49-54
        }
}
OBJECTIVE The objective of this qualitative study was to identify psychosocial correlates of HIV voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), with an emphasis on the association between fear of AIDS-related stigma and willingness to have an HIV test. METHODS The study was executed in Limpopo Province at University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa. Focus group interviews were held among 72 students, divided over 10 groups. RESULTS Results showed that participants had different levels of… 
View on PubMed
tspace.library.utoronto.ca
171 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
17
Background Citations
58
Methods Citations
2
Results Citations
16

171 Citations

Changing patterns in HIV/AIDS stigma and uptake of voluntary counselling and testing services: The results of two consecutive community surveys conducted in the Western Cape, South Africa

A reduction in levels of HIV/AIDS-associated stigma was noted in a community burdened with high HIV prevalence, as was an increase in reported VCT, and interventions to reduce stigma in communities affected by this disease should be encouraged.

HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma and Discrimination in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review

The review revealed that HIV/ AIDS-related stigma and discrimination has resulted in loss of jobs and accommodation as well as difficulty in accessing healthcare and education among people living with HIV/AIDS.

HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing: Knowledge, Beliefs, Concerns and Practices among Students

Most of the university students in this study reported that they were not testing for HIV because of leakage of results, fear of knowing their status, stigmatisation and labelling, and showed that peer educators, radio and television were their source of information for HIV prevention.

AIDS-Related Stigma, HIV Testing, and Transmission Risk Among Patrons of Informal Drinking Places in Cape Town, South Africa

Endorsement of AIDS-related stigma was negatively associated with HIV lifetime testing and stigma endorsement was associated with higher HIV transmission risks.

Female sex workers perspectives and concerns regarding HIV self-testing: an exploratory study in Tanzania

FSWs demonstrated high enthusiasm to use the HIVST once it becomes available, and expectations for increased confidentiality, autonomy, and reduced opportunity costs were among the leading factors that attracted FSWs to HIVST.

Psychosocial and demographic factors affecting utilization of voluntary counselling and testing services among secondary school teachers in Nyando District, Kenya

The study found significant relationships between utilization of VCT services and gender and age and perception of the importance of V CT as an HIV/AIDS control strategy and recommended that MOH and other VCT service providers immediately step up VCT promotion programs that will mainly focus on male and older members of the study population.

Reviewing gender and cultural factors associated with HIV/AIDS among university students in the South African context

The literature review revealed that South African students, despite adequate HIV/AIDS knowledge, demonstrated high rates of sexual practices that place them at risk for HIV infection, i.e. unprotected sex, multiple partners and ‘sugar-daddy practices’.

Factors infuencing the use of voluntary counselling and testing by university students

Several factors and challenges regarding the uptake of VCT services by university students are revealed, including knowing one's HIV status, illness, pregnancy, blood donation, getting a reward, influence of significant others, media, awareness campaigns, compulsion, curiosity, being positive role model, and the attitude of the health care provider.

Impact of HIV testing on sexual health communication in South Africa

HIV testing is associated with sexual health communication among South African community members and sexual partners and offering HIV testing to all South Africans may increase communication and lead to reductions in sexual risk.

Relationship between HIV Stigma and Self-Isolation among People Living with HIV in Tennessee

Overwhelming reluctance to disclose a person’s HIV status made identifying enacted stigma with a quantitative scale difficult, and participants’ use of self-isolation as a coping mechanism led to an underestimation of enacted HIV stigma in quantitative scales.
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 45 REFERENCES

Attitudes to HIV voluntary counselling and testing among mineworkers in South Africa: Will availability of antiretroviral therapy encourage testing?

A vigorous community education programme is essential if the introduction of ART is to be effective in promoting uptake of VCT among gold mineworkers in South Africa.

HIV testing attitudes, AIDS stigma, and voluntary HIV counselling and testing in a black township in Cape Town, South Africa

Efforts to promote VCT in South Africa require education about the benefits of testing and reductions in stigmatising attitudes towards people living with AIDS, and structural and social marketing interventions that aim to reduce AIDS stigmas will probably decrease resistance to seeking VCT.

Factors influencing acceptability of voluntary counselling and HIV-testing among pregnant women in Northern Tanzania

Perceived high personal susceptibility to HIV/AIDS, barriers related to confidentiality and partner involvement, self-efficacy regarding alternative feeding methods and religion were all shown to be associated with willingness to accept VCT.

Internalized stigma, discrimination, and depression among men and women living with HIV/AIDS in Cape Town, South Africa.

Disentangling HIV and AIDS Stigma in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia

Five critical elements that programs aiming to tackle stigma need to address are pointed to: Create greater recognition of stigma and discrimination, Foster in-depth, applied knowledge about all aspects of HIV and AIDS through a participatory and interactive process.

HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours among rural South African youth: Implications for health education

A profile of modifiable risk factors among male first time entrants to a health and fitness centre in South Africa and a high incidence of self-reported genital discharge/ulcer/sore among sexually active youths is drawn up.

Attitudes Towards HIV-Antibody Testing Among University Students in Four African Countries

The HIV TestingAttitude Score indicating a positive attitudetowards HIV testing was associated with having had an HIV test, the intention to go for an HIVtest, self-rated HIV knowledge, the number ofsex partners in the past 12 months, and personally knowing someone with HIV or AIDS.

Low impact of a community-wide HIV testing and counseling program on sexual behavior in rural Uganda.

  • W. KippG. KabagambeJ. Konde-Lule
  • Medicine, Psychology
    AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education
  • 2001
The conclusion is that only knowing the HIV serostatus is not enough to reduce high risk behavior and there is a demand for HIV counseling services without being HIV tested.

HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination: a conceptual framework and implications for action.

Psychosocial factors associated with hiv testing amongst scottish gay men

This article describes the relationship between HIV testing and a range of psychosocial, sexual and socio-demographic variables. Trained research staff distributed a self-report questionnaire in the…