Exploratory Study on Factors Associated with Stigmatisation of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Botswana

Volume : (13), Issue : 205, January - 2019

Abstract : Antiretroviral therapy has effectively changed Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) from a terminal to a manageable chronic illness. However, People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) still contend with stigmatisation, hostility and gossip which take their toll on their health and psychological well-being. This paper explores the factors responsible for stigmatisation of PLWHA. The 2008 Botswana Aids Impact Survey III (BAIS III) data was used to assess the attitudes of people to HIV/AIDS patients in Botswana using the generalized additive model. The model was used to simultaneously measure the fixed and nonlinear effects. The fixed effects of categorical covariates were modelled using the diffuse prior while P-spline  with  second-order  random  walk  was  considered  for  the  nonlinear  effect  of continuous variable. The Binomial distribution was used to handle the dichotomous nature of the three dependent variables considered. The dependent variables considered are family member, teacher and a shopkeeper/food seller who live with HIV/AIDS. This study has shown that people who live in urban areas, educated, married/living together with partner or even divorced and those whose family members are sick with HIV or AIDS are more likely to show discriminatory attitude them.  

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Article No : 10030

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