Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily settled in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia.
Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Health Soc Care Community. 2021 Jul;29(4):1100-1114. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13144. Epub 2020 Sep 3.
HIV-related stigma could delay the identification and treatment of persons living with HIV (PLHIV), particularly in regions affected by ethnic conflicts. The aims of this study were to assess attitudes towards PLHIV and examine factors associated with stronger positive attitudes towards PLHIV among university students in the Serbian province of Kosovo. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Pristina temporarily settled in Kosovska Mitrovica during the academic year 2013-2014. A total of 1,017 first- and fourth-year students completed an anonymous questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics, PLHIV, high-risk groups for acquiring HIV and health behaviour. The main outcome measure was the Attitude Score (ATS), calculated as a sum of points awarded for all attitude-related items. The majority of students (84%) expressed positive attitudes towards PLHIV, while others were indecisive. Most students held negative opinions about persons who use drugs (64%), homosexual persons of both genders (50%) and sex workers (42%). Being female (odds ratio [OR] = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-2.09) and older (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.03-1.24), not doing paid work while studying (OR = 3.35, 95% CI = 1.63-6.84), studying health-related disciplines (β = -0.113, 95% CI = -0.085 to -2.747), having stronger positive attitudes towards homosexual persons of both genders (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.64-0.94) and not using illicit drugs (β = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.03-4.20) were associated with stronger positive attitudes towards PLHIV. Social inclusion of PLHIV and individuals at high risk for acquiring HIV could help reduce the HIV-related stigma.
HIV 相关的耻辱感可能会延迟艾滋病毒感染者（PLHIV）的识别和治疗，尤其是在受种族冲突影响的地区。本研究的目的是评估大学生对 PLHIV 的态度，并研究与对 PLHIV 持更积极态度相关的因素，研究对象为塞尔维亚科索沃省的大学生。2013-2014 学年，在普里什蒂纳大学科索沃米特罗维察临时校区进行了一项横断面研究。共有 1017 名一、四年级学生完成了一份关于社会人口特征、PLHIV、感染 HIV 的高危人群和健康行为的匿名问卷。主要观察指标是态度得分（ATS），通过对所有与态度相关的项目的得分总和计算得出。大多数学生（84%）对 PLHIV 持积极态度，而其他人则犹豫不决。大多数学生对吸毒者（64%）、男女同性恋者（50%）和性工作者（42%）持负面看法。女性（比值比 [OR] = 1.49，95%置信区间 [CI] 1.05-2.09）和年龄较大（OR = 1.13，95% CI 1.03-1.24）、学习期间不从事有报酬工作（OR = 3.35，95% CI 1.63-6.84）、学习健康相关学科（β = -0.113，95% CI -0.085 至-2.747）、对男女同性恋者持更积极的态度（OR = 0.77，95% CI 0.64-0.94）和不使用非法药物（β = 2.08，95% CI 1.03-4.20）与对 PLHIV 持更积极的态度相关。PLHIV 和感染 HIV 高危人群的社会包容有助于减少与 HIV 相关的耻辱感。
