Hiv And Aids Related Stigma And Discrimination Among Nurses In The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis Of Ghana

ABSTRACT This study addressed the problem of stigma and discrimination (SAD) exhibited by nurses against patients living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). The study was conducted among nurses in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) in the Western Region of Ghana. It measured the prevalence of HIV and AIDS related stigma and discrimination (HARSAD) among the nurses, assessed their knowledge of HARSAD and examined the influence of their knowledge and personal characteristics on their perpetration of HARSAD. The study was quantitative descriptive cross-sectional survey. The study sample consisted of 286 nurses selected by convenience sampling from five hospitals selected by purposive sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data using the paper and pen/pencil approach. Data collected included the nurses’ demographic and professional characteristics, work experiences with PLWHA, HIV testing history and willingness. HARSAD knowledge was tested with ten closed ended questions with Yes/No/Unknown response options. HARSAD tendencies were assessed with the modified Healthcare Provider HIV/AIDS Stigma Scale (MHPASS) consisting of 15-items of which 5 items each assessed for prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination respectively on a 6-Point Likert Scale. Data was analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 23. The results showed HARSAD prevalence of 24.11% among the nurses. Prejudice was highest at 30.53% followed by stereotypes at 28.58% and discrimination at 13.24%. Significant predictors of HARSAD included age, years of nursing practice and experience of working in HIV/AIDS units. HARSAD knowledge among the nurses was generally moderate but had no significant influence on their perpetration of HARSAD. 91.6% of the nurses had done HIV test before and xiii 58.74% were willing to test. Testing history had no significant influence while testing willingness had significant negative influence on HARSAD. Conclusion based on the findings was that 24.11% of the nurses exhibited SAD tendencies against PLWHA. The extent of HARSAD exhibited was influenced by their age, years of nursing practice and experience of work in HIV/AIDS units but not by their knowledge of HARSAD nor previous HIV testing experience. Discrimination tendencies however influenced HIV testing willingness. Recommendations emphasized the need for HARSAD reduction interventions to focus more on younger nurses and HARSAD knowledge to be complemented with behaviour change communication in order to effect change of behavior of nurses towards PLWHA.