Jacobi Christoph A, Atanga Pascal N J I, Bin Leonard K, Mbome Victor N, Akam Wilfred, Bogner Johannes R, Kropf Siegfried, Malfertheiner Peter
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Magdeburg, Germany.
AIDS Care. 2013;25(2):173-80. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2012.701715. Epub 2012 Aug 1.
The universal access to treatment and care for people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is a major problem especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of HIV infected people live. However, 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. In this study we measured the HIV/AIDS-related stigma felt by PLWHIV in Cameroon using "The people living with HIV stigma index" questionnaire developed by UNAIDS, International Planned Parenthood Federation and Global Network of PLWHIV/AIDS among others. A total of 200 questionnaires were anonymously administered to PLWHIV in the HIV/AIDS treatment center of the Regional Hospital Annex Buea in the South West Region of Cameroon by trained academics who were themselves PLWHIV. In this setting the major problems faced by the PLWHIV with regard to stigmatization and discrimination were gossiping and verbal insults, which was felt by about half of the interviewees. Equally important was internal stigma, half of the PLWHIV felt ashamed and guilty to be HIV infected. This is the first report of this kind in Cameroon. These results will help to better understand HIV/AIDS-related stigma in this setting and in turn will improve the quality of life of PLWHIV by promoting their acceptance by the community.
为感染艾滋病毒者(PLWHIV)提供普遍的治疗和护理是一个重大问题,在撒哈拉以南非洲地区尤为如此,那里居住着大多数艾滋病毒感染者。然而,同样重要的是,与艾滋病毒/艾滋病相关的污名被认为是成功控制该疾病传播的主要障碍。在本研究中,我们使用联合国艾滋病规划署、国际计划生育联合会和艾滋病毒/艾滋病感染者全球网络等机构编制的“艾滋病毒感染者污名指数”问卷,对喀麦隆的艾滋病毒感染者所感受到的与艾滋病毒/艾滋病相关的污名进行了测量。在喀麦隆西南地区布埃亚地区医院附属艾滋病治疗中心,由身为艾滋病毒感染者的受过培训的学者,向艾滋病毒感染者总共匿名发放了200份问卷。在这种情况下,艾滋病毒感染者在遭受污名化和歧视方面面临的主要问题是流言蜚语和言语侮辱,约一半的受访者有这种感受。同样重要的是内在污名,一半的艾滋病毒感染者因感染艾滋病毒而感到羞愧和内疚。这是喀麦隆的首份此类报告。这些结果将有助于更好地了解这种情况下与艾滋病毒/艾滋病相关的污名,进而通过促进社区对艾滋病毒感染者的接纳来提高他们的生活质量。