AIDS Patient Care and STDs
Volume 28, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 155-161

HIV-related discrimination in european health care settings (Article)

Nöstlinger C.* , Rojas Castro D. , Platteau T. , Dias S. , Le Gall J.
  • a Departments of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp 2000, Belgium
  • b AIDES, MIRE, Paris, France
  • c Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
  • d Instituto de Higiena e Medicina Tropical, Lisbon, Portugal
  • e AIDES, MIRE, Paris, France

Abstract

This cross-sectional European study assessed self-reported HIV-related discrimination and its associated factors in health care settings. Socio-demographics, health status, support needs relating to sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and self-reported HIV-related discrimination were measured using an anonymous survey in a sample of 1549 people living with HIV from 14 countries. Thirty-two per cent of the participants had experienced HIV-related discrimination during the previous 3 years; almost half of them felt discriminated against by health care providers. For this type of discrimination, logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations with not being a migrant (OR: 2.0; IC 1.0-3.7; p<0.05), having been forced into sexual activities (OR: 1.6; IC 1.2-2.2; p<0.001), reporting lack of time to discuss SRH during service provision (OR: 1.7; IC 1.0-2.7; p<0.05), and insufficient openness among service providers to discuss SRH (OR: 2.0; IC 1.1-3.4; p<0.05). Other significant associations related to unmet support needs on safer sex practices (OR: 1.8; IC 1.0-3.2; p<0.05), partner communication about sexuality (OR: 2.0; IC 1.1-3.4; p<0.05), and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (OR: 1.7; IC 1.0-3.0; p<0.05). Female gender had a protective effect (OR: 0.2; IC 0.0-0.9; p<0.05). Being denied the opportunity to discuss SRH may translate in feelings of discrimination. Improving health care providers' communication skills, and fostering openness about SRH topics in HIV care could contribute to destigmatization of PLHIV. © 2014, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Health Personnel Germany depression HIV Infections anxiety disorder regression analysis sexual behavior Human immunodeficiency virus infection alcohol consumption Portugal Europe Stereotyping Safe Sex human sexuality middle aged Self Report health service Poland health status Aged social support Austria Slovakia Czech Republic Latvia Hungary sexual transmission sexually transmitted disease Cross-Sectional Studies heterosexuality Reproductive Health Services Young Adult Discrimination (Psychology) cross-sectional study homosexuality Humans Adolescent health services research male sexual dysfunction female Socioeconomic Factors Multivariate Analysis Greece Belgium Article health care major clinical study adult Prejudice United Kingdom Italy social discrimination Switzerland

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84896752683&doi=10.1089%2fapc.2013.0247&partnerID=40&md5=1f7392194a5dd7f44f66b80bf5b47a64

DOI: 10.1089/apc.2013.0247
ISSN: 10872914
Cited by: 23
Original Language: English