Abstract

???BETWEEN US AND THEM??? - UNDERSTANDING STIGMA AND STIGMATIZATION AMONG PEOPLE WITH HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) / ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) IN SUMATERA ISLAND, INDONESIA

Author(s): Muhammad Arsyad Subu, Amira Esti, Feri Fernan

Objective: People living with HIV/AIDS have been the targets of stigma. For those with HIV/AIDS, stigma has created dire circumstances in the workplace, healthcare and in social settings. There is limited information on stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS West Sumatera in Sumatera Island Indonesia. The purpose of this research is to understand how stigma and stigmatisation among people living with HIV/AIDS in their daily lives. Methods: The study design was Charmaz’s Constructivist Grounded Theory. Data was collected by semistructured interviews, document reviews, and field notes and memos of 25 participants at Ahmad Muchtar Hospital Sumatera. Data analysis used Paillé. Results: The research found 4 categories: (1) denial, (2) low self-esteem, (3) rejection and isolation, and (4) fear. HIV AIDS stigma becomes another life obstacle of people who are already faced with social and economic obstacles. Conclusions: The findings provide some useful information to be incorporated into healthcare education directed toward enabling current and future providers of health services to help people with HIV/AIDS in Sumatera Island Indonesia. Stigma remains a clinical and social justice priority to provide ongoing support for people with HIV/AIDS, to develop and evaluate both general and more targeted anti-stigma interventions. Further researches are needed to understand the stigma toward people with HIV/AIDS in Sumatra Island from families’ and communities’ perspectives.

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