| dc.description.abstract | Background. Eastern Europe and Central Asia is the only region in the world where annual rate of HIV infections continues to rise rapidly. In spite of the progress made by implementing ‘treat all’ strategy, full expenses governmental coverage of HIV-related health services and national strategies for key groups, the rapid spread of HIV will continue if urgent measures are not undertaken. Stigma associated with HIV decreases adherence to treatment, testing uptake and might contribute to the expansion of HIV epidemic.
Objectives. The research objectives of the study are to investigate and describe the stigma experience and its impact on PLWHIV in the country of Georgia.
Methods. The qualitative study was conducted in collaboration with the HIV/AIDS Patients Support Foundation in Tbilisi and the national Center of Disease Control (NCDC) among 20 participants with a diagnosis of being HIV-positive. They were 18 years or older, speaking fluent Georgian or Russian language. Based on this four focus group discussions were performed. The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed and analyzed using the Health stigma and discrimination framework by Stangl et al. (2019).
Results. The results highlighted the connection of HIV-associated stigma with health facilities, the government level, workplace and community levels of stigma, self-stigma and their influence on affected populations.
Conclusions. The drivers and facilitators leading to stigma marking, stigma experiences and practices, that in their turn cause negative outcomes on the affected population and society were described. Further research is necessary to develop society level interventions in order to reduce discrimination around AIDS and HIV. | |
