Factors affecting stigma communication towards people living with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to identify factors influencing the stigma communication concerning HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)/AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patients between health and medical college students. Methods: In this descriptive study, the participants were 158 college students from a certain university. Data were collected from September 18 to September 30, 2018. Self-reported questionnaires were used to measure AIDS-related knowledge, homosexual awareness, fear of HIV/AIDS patients and stigma communication. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, one way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation and a stepwise multiple regression analysis using the SPSS 23.0 program. Results: The factors influencing the stigma communication between health and medical college students were a fear of HIV/AIDS patients (β=.47, p<.001) and homosexual awareness (β=-.15, p=.040), which together explained 28.0% of the variance in the model. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that an education program for health and medical college students should be developed. Additionally, when designing the education program, it is recommended that the contents for inducing attitude changes should include affective areas as well as knowledge-oriented contents. The study suggests that it is necessary to provide a systematic education program to decrease the stigma for HIV/AIDS patients before health care providers enter clinical practice.