Abstract

HIV and AIDS have spread rapidly since the first case was diagnosed in 1986. HIV and AIDS pandemic the world over is still incurable despite efforts by the local and international community partnerships. Worsening the case still, is epidemic of stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with HIV and AIDS from the general public most especially healthcare providers who render services to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). Factors reinforcing these behaviours among the healthcare providers have not been adequately investigated. Such cruel behaviours towards persons living with the virus has myriad of negative impacts on their psyche and adjustment pattern and ultimately their health-related quality of life. The study therefore seeks to investigate the pattern and the extent of discrimination and stigmatisation among healthcare providers; experiences of stigma and discrimination by persons living with HIV and AIDS from healthcare providers as well as the socio-cultural factors reinforcing such negative behaviours in Ibadanland. Also the study seeks to explore the effectiveness of messages from the media aimed at reducing discrimination and stigmatisation among healthcare providers. The study was cross-sectional in design. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 225 study respondents comprising of 65 healthcare providers and 160 PLWHA for interview. The instrument for data collection was a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using t-Test, Chi square and descriptive statistics. A majority (71.1%) of the respondents were people living with HIV and AIDS while only 28.9% were healthcare providers. More than half (53.3%) of the respondents were males. Respondents with senior secondary school examination certificate top the list (49.8%). A majority of the respondents (60.0%) were married while about 34.7% were singles. Most of the respondents, 44.0%, were between the ages 26–35 years. Four hypotheses were tested; there was a significant difference in the level of awareness of stigma and discrimination between PLWHA and healthcare providers. This might be due to the fact that the PLWHA feel the impact of the disease condition more than the healthcare providers. The second hypothesis was also rejected as there was significant difference in the perception of PLWHA and healthcare providers in the role of media in reducing stigmatisation and discrimination against PLWHA. However, the third hypothesis was accepted as there was no significant difference between PLWHA and healthcare providers in their perception of the role of workshop and seminar in the reduction of stigma and discrimination towards PLWHA. In addition to this, the fourth hypothesis was accepted. There was no significant difference in the perception of PLWHA and healthcare providers on the role of electronic media and campaign against stigmatisation between PLWHA and health providers. The findings of this study showed that there were variations in the level of awareness and experience of stigma and discrimination, proactive measures should be geared towards prevention and eradication of the epidemic HIV and stigma and discrimination at local, national and international levels. Health education strategies such as sensitisation, workshop and continuing professional education for healthcare providers on issues surrounding HIV and AIDS will go a long way in ameliorating this problem.