Department of Medicine and Medical sciences, University of Balamand (UOB), Al-Kurah, Lebanon.
Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon.
PLoS One. 2021 Mar 25;16(3):e0249025. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249025. eCollection 2021.
Up till today, studies carried in Lebanon have focused more on the prevalence of HIV and behaviors and quality of life of infected individuals, however, none of these studies discussed the degree of stigma towards these populations. Therefore, the aim of this study is to measure the rate of stigma in terms of knowledge, attitude and practice towards patients living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (PLWHA) and examine the factors associated with this stigma.
A cross-sectional survey, enrolling 862 participants, was carried across the five governorates in Lebanon: Beirut, Mount Lebanon, North, South and Bekaa. The survey was a self-administered questionnaire which covered information about participants' general demographics, their knowledge, attitudes, practices and awareness towards HIV/AIDS in Lebanon., attitudes towards PLWHA, practices related to HIV/AIDS and awareness regarding HIV/AIDS situation in Lebanon.
The response rate to the survey was 78.36% (862 participants). Being Muslim (Beta = -2.56) or Druze (Beta = -2.64) compared to Christians were significantly associated with lower knowledge towards HIV/AIDS, whereas having a secondary (Beta = 2.71) and a university (Beta = 3.04) levels of education compared to illiteracy and higher age (Beta = 0.05) were significantly associated with higher knowledge. Higher knowledge (Beta = 0.66) was significantly associated with better attitude, whereas higher age (Beta = -0.14) and being Muslim compared to Christian (Beta = -3.44) were significantly associated with worse attitude. Better attitude (Beta = 0.02) was significantly associated with better practice, whereas females compared to males (Beta = -0.39), having a secondary level of education compared to illiteracy (Beta = -0.88) and being Muslim compared to Christian (Beta = -0.32) were significantly associated with worse practice.
Our results stress the need for educational programs, advocacy campaigns and policies to help reduce HIV stigma. This will then help start developing interventions and strategies for a possible reduction in the stigmatization level.
迄今为止，黎巴嫩的研究主要集中在艾滋病毒的流行情况以及感染者的行为和生活质量上，但没有一项研究讨论过针对这些人群的污名程度。因此，本研究旨在衡量人们对艾滋病毒感染者和艾滋病患者（PLWHA）的知识、态度和实践方面的污名程度，并研究与这种污名相关的因素。
本研究采用横断面调查，在黎巴嫩五个省份（贝鲁特、黎巴嫩山、北部、南部和贝卡）招募了 862 名参与者。该调查采用自填式问卷，涵盖了参与者的一般人口统计学信息、他们在黎巴嫩对艾滋病毒/艾滋病的知识、态度、实践和意识，对 PLWHA 的态度，与艾滋病毒/艾滋病相关的实践以及对黎巴嫩艾滋病毒/艾滋病状况的认识。
调查的回复率为 78.36%（862 名参与者）。与基督教徒相比，穆斯林（β=-2.56）或德鲁兹人（β=-2.64）的艾滋病毒/艾滋病知识明显较低，而具有中学（β=2.71）和大学（β=3.04）学历的参与者与文盲相比，艾滋病毒/艾滋病知识明显较高，年龄较大（β=0.05）与知识较高相关。较高的知识（β=0.66）与更好的态度显著相关，而较高的年龄（β=-0.14）和穆斯林与基督教徒相比（β=-3.44）与较差的态度显著相关。更好的态度（β=0.02）与更好的实践显著相关，而与男性相比，女性（β=-0.39），与文盲相比，中学学历（β=-0.88）和穆斯林与基督教徒相比（β=-0.32）与较差的实践显著相关。
我们的研究结果强调需要开展教育计划、宣传活动和政策，以帮助减少艾滋病毒污名。这将有助于制定干预措施和战略，以降低污名化水平。
