Study of HIV related stigma in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA): Role of gender differences

HIV/AIDS is increasingly being accepted as not merely a medical problem, but a social problem as well. HIV-related stigma remains one of the greatest barriers to the health and well-being of people living with HIV (Herek, 1999; UNAIDS, 2007) and it is a major barrier in path of HIV testing and counselling. In present research, the main aim is to study the stigma related to HIV in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) and to study the role of gender differences in PLHA. The cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 100 HIV patients (50 Males and 50 Females) who were registered in ART centre, Patiala for HIV treatment. The information was collected by using HIV stigma scale (Berger, 1996) and results were analysed by using t-test values. The results of present research showed that HIV females scored higher on stigma scale as compared to HIV males. Similarly, two subscales of HIV stigma i.e. personalized stigma and public attitude were also high in HIV females as compared with HIV males. Thus, findings suggest different approaches may be required to address HIV-related stigma based on gender.