Discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has been widely reported.^1–4 Fear of discrimination was found to influence the use of HIV related prevention and care services.⁵ “Double stigmatisation” is another concern as PLWHA are often associated with some stigmatised social groups.⁶

The prevalence of HIV is low in Hong Kong,⁷ yet a substantial level of discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHA has been documented among adults,^4,8 adolescents,⁹ social workers,¹⁰ health services providers,¹¹ and people in the workplace.¹² Around one third of the general public reported that they would avoid contacting an HIV infected friend⁴; about 40–50% of the local PLWHA thought they were being seriously discriminated against.¹³

It is reported that sociodemographic characteristics, HIV related knowledge, personal acquaintance with PLWHA, anti-homosexual attitudes, and perceived responsibility for the HIV infection, sympathy towards PLWHA, etc, were associated with discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHA.^4,14–22 Few relevant studies have been conducted in the Chinese general populations.⁴ The present study investigates the prevalence of adults exhibiting various discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHA and associated factors in a Chinese population.

METHODS

Study population and sampling

A random telephone survey was conducted in November 2000. Random telephone numbers were selected from up to date telephone directories. Almost 100% of the Hong Kong residents have telephones at home (Hong Kong Office of the Telecommunications Authority, personal communication, 28 January 2000). Of each sampled household, a Chinese member aged 18–50 and whose past birthday was closest to the day of the interview was invited to participate in the study. Interviews were conducted between 6 pm to 10:30 pm to avoid over-representing unemployed individuals. Unanswered telephone calls were attempted at least two more times on separate evenings before being classified as invalid. A total of 808 respondents (383 males and 425 females) participated in the study. The response rate was about 53%, which is comparable to other local telephone surveys.^23,24 Ethics approval was obtained from the research ethics committee of the university.

Measurements

Sixty one items related to discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHA were first collected from a literature review. Ten local PLWHA were asked to rate the relevance of these candidate items. A pilot test was performed (n = 40) and some items that had low discriminatory power were eliminated. A total of 20 items were hence selected (see table 2). Respondents indicated their level of agreement with these statements (on a five point scale, from 1 to 5). A composite score (Discriminatory Attitude Score (DAS)) was derived by obtaining the average score of the 20 items (ranged from 1 to 5) (Cronbach’s α  = 0.84). Higher scores meant more discrimination. Respondents were also asked (on a five point scale) whether they agreed or disagreed with another five statements related to negative perceptions about PLWHA. Other questions related to HIV and sociodemographic background were also asked (table 1).

Statistical analysis

χ² Tests were used and relevant odds ratios were calculated. Bonferroni adjustment was performed. To examine the associations between discriminatory attitudes and other studied variables, both univariate (Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients) and multivariate analysis (stepwise multiple linear regression using univariately significant variables as input variables) were performed. A p value <0.05 was taken as statistically significant. SPSS for Windows 11.01 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for all statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Background characteristics

The sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents are summarised in table 1. Around 3% of the respondents had some PLWHA acquaintance and most of the respondents (88.4%) had not received any HIV related information in the past 2 weeks.

HIV related knowledge/attitudes and negative perceptions about PLWHA

For all but one item (“kissing”), over 60% of the respondents gave a correct answer to questions on HIV related knowledge (table 1). About 18% perceived that the current AIDS situation in Hong Kong to be serious; nearly 67% perceived that AIDS is horrible. About 26.6% felt more fearful in contacting PLWHA than contacting patients of other chronic diseases. Many respondents possessed negative perceptions towards PLWHA with regard to the five relevant questions asked. Sociodemographic differences were also noted (table 1).

Level of discriminatory attitudes

The results are summarised in table 2. About 30% to 60% of the respondents would avoid making any physical contact with PLWHA (42%), and believed that physicians should have the right in determining whether to serve PLWHA or not (38.1%), that all PLWHA medical staff should be dismissed (35%), that insurance companies should refuse PLWHA’s insurance (31.7%), that it is necessary to enact a law to criminalise the sexual activity of PLWHA (57.2%), and that it is necessary to enact a law to prohibit PLWHA foreign visitors from visiting Hong Kong (47.3%). Nearly 10% would want their PLWHA neighbours to move away. About 6% agreed that PLWHA should move out of their home and 3% were unwilling to take care of HIV infected family members. Overall, 94.7% of the respondents showed some discriminatory attitudes in at least one of the 20 items (42.3% for ⩾5 items).

Factors associated with discriminatory attitudes

Sex differences were observed only in two items (items 12 and 14; table 2). Younger respondents, those with post-Form 5 education level, and those who were single were less discriminatory than others (table 2). Many of the items remained statistically significant after Bonferroni adjustment was performed (p<0.001). Religion and housing type were not statistically significantly associated with any of the 20 above mentioned items (data not tabulated).

Adjusting for background factors listed in table 1, respondents with less understanding on HIV related knowledge, perceiving AIDS to be horrible, agreeing that the current AIDS situation in Hong Kong to be serious, and not having received HIV/AIDS related information in the past 2 weeks before the interview were more likely than others to exhibit discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHA (table 3). Similarly, the five items related to negative perceptions about PLWHA were all significantly associated with discriminatory responses (table 4).

Univariately, age groups (Pearson r = 0.29; Spearman r = 0.27), education level (Pearson r = −0.22; Spearman r = −0.20), marital status (Pearson r = 0.24; Spearman r = 0.24; this dichotomous variable was also significant when Student’s t test was used), whether received HIV/AIDS related information in the past 2 weeks (Pearson r = 0.11; Spearman r = 0.12; this dichotomous variable was also significant when Student’s t test was used), number of correct HIV related knowledge items (Pearson r = −0.37; Spearman r = −0.33), the three HIV related attitudes listed in table 1 (Pearson r = 0.12 to 0.44; Spearman r = 0.09 to 0.44), and all five items related to perception about PLWHA listed in table 1 (both Pearson and Spearman r = 0.15 to 0.36) were all significantly associated with DAS.

Results of the stepwise multiple linear regression analysis (adjusted R²  = 0.42) showed that age (β = 0.11, p<0.001), lack of exposure to HIV related information in the past 2 weeks (β = 0.07, p<0.05), number of correct HIV knowledge items (β = −0.18, p<0.001), perception that AIDS is horrible (β = 0.15, p<0.001), felt more fearful in contacting PLWHA than other patients with chronic diseases (β = 0.26, p<0.001), perceiving that the majority of PLWHA are promiscuous (β = 0.1, p<0.01), perceiving that PLWHA are merely receiving the punishment they deserve (β = 0.13, p<0.001), perceiving that PLHWA should feel ashamed of themselves (β = 0.1, p<0.01), perceiving that PLWHA as not deserve sympathy (β = 0.1, p<0.05), and perceiving that PLWHA would make other colleagues apprehensive (β = 0.08, p<0.01) were all independently associated with DAS (data not tabulated).

Resource allocation

About 31% of the respondents would give the lowest priority in resource allocation to PLWHA, compared with four other chronic diseases (mental illness, cancer, heart disease, and kidney disease). Marital status, but not other variables listed in table 1, was of statistical significance.

DISCUSSION

The study demonstrated that discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHA have been common in Hong Kong. The results are consistent with those obtained from other studies.^4,13 PLWHA in Hong Kong have been strongly stigmatised. For instance, a noticeable proportion of the general population perceived PLWHA to be promiscuous and would make their colleagues apprehensive; many respondents thought that PLWHA were merely receiving punishment that they deserve or even thought that PLWHA should be ashamed of themselves. Consistent with international literature, the above mentioned stigma and negative perceptions were significantly associated with discriminatory attitudes.^4,20,21 Moral values are likely to be associated with their disease status, possibly because of their association with various vulnerable groups that have been marginalised in the society. Education programmes should thus portray PLWHA as useful members of the community, instead of emphasising their memberships in vulnerable groups.

The literature has shown that programmes using PLWHA as educators tended to be effective.²⁵ However, only two late PLWHA in Hong Kong disclosed their HIV status in public and nearly 80% of the PLWHA worried that their HIV status would be made known to others.¹³ A vicious cycle of non-disclosure, misunderstanding, and discrimination may thus be in operation.

Consistent with other local and international studies,^4,15,19 the level of HIV related knowledge is negatively associated with discriminatory attitudes, yet, lack of knowledge is only one of the significant variables in the multivariate model. About two thirds of respondents thought that AIDS is horrible and about a quarter expressed that they were more fearful of being in contact with PLWHA than patients with other chronic disease. These factors were independent predictors of discriminatory attitudes. Fear may thus be another important source of discriminatory attitudes. Paradoxically, worrying about contracting the disease and perceiving serious disease consequences may have favourable impacts on prevention.^26,27 A balance between prevention and discrimination considerations is required.

Like other studies,^4,19 the univariate analyses showed that those who were married or with lower education attainment tended to be more discriminatory; this was not true in the multivariate analysis. An explanation is that those who were less educated or married may tend to be less knowledgeable, more fearful towards AIDS, and more likely to have negative perceptions about PLWHA, etc.

It is encouraging to see that those who received some HIV related information in the past 2 weeks tended to exhibit less discriminatory attitudes. Another local study showed that discriminatory attitudes among adolescents could largely be reduced by a simple intervention programme.²⁸ Few intervention programmes have been targeting adults in Hong Kong and in mainland China. These programmes are most warranted and should be supported by other programmes attempting to reduce stigmatisation of vulnerable social groups.

Until now, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and a number of other supportive services (including counselling services) are offered free to all PLWHA attending public clinics. Increased years of life are expected and PLWHA are thus patients with chronic disease. The interesting fact that about 31% of the respondents would give resource allocation to PLWHA the lowest priority, compared to four other types of chronic disease is also worth some attention. It is speculated that HIV/AIDS is often not seen as a typical chronic disease in Hong Kong. This compartmentalisation does not help to convince the public that the rights of the PLWHA are not different from those patients with other chronic diseases.

The study has several limitations. Firstly, self reported data may be subjected to presentation bias, though the study is anonymous and the existence of bias should underestimate the degree of discriminatory attitudes. Secondly, discriminatory attitudes, instead of behaviours, were studied. Discriminatory attitudes may be related to behaviours, and as such would affect the feelings and behaviours of the PLWHA. As few of the general population had an experience of having direct interaction with PLWHA, a study of discrimination behaviours is difficult. Thirdly, the response rate is moderate (about 53%), though it is comparable to that of other local telephone surveys^23,24; besides, no data were available from the non-responders. The composition of the sample, however, is roughly comparable with that of the census population. Fourthly, the cross sectional nature of the study would not allow for inference of causality.

Discriminatory attitudes are common in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is an open and well informed society; so discriminatory attitudes may be even more common in mainland China, where people may be less informed. An integrated and multidirectional approach of providing relevant knowledge, removing fear, and negative perceptions is warranted.