Correlates of perceived HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among couples in Northern India: Gender differences and the moderating role of HIV/AIDS knowledge

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

3039.0: Monday, November 05, 2007 - 9:30 AM

Abstract #163576

Alpna Agrawal, MPH, Maternal and Child Health, Carolina Population Center and School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, University Square, 123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516-2524, (713) 398-7148, aagrawal@email.unc.edu, Shelah S. Bloom, ScD, Dept. of Maternal & Child Health, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 123 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516-3997, Kaushalendra K. Singh, PhD, Department of Statistics, Banaras Hindu University, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India, and Chirayath M. Suchindran, PhD, Dept. of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3103A McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400.

Background: India ranks first in the world in the total number of people living with HIV/AIDS. A major socio-cultural factor attributed to the spread of the disease is perceived HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. However, no systematic study has examined potential correlates of perceived HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in the Indian context. Methods: The study analysis utilized crossectional, population-based data from a 2002, NIH-funded survey “Behavioral Dynamics of HIV/AIDS in Uttar Pradesh, India”. Information was collected on 3,385 married couples (i.e., 6,770 women and men). The study sample (n=4,704) was a subset of the total sample consisting of only men and women who had ever heard of HIV/AIDS. Based on four question items, the dependant variable was binary measuring whether or not respondents reported any perceived HIV/AIDS-related stigmatizing attitude. The key independent variables were gender and the interaction between gender and HIV/AIDS knowledge. Models were estimated by conditional logistic regression matching men and women that were couples. Results: Perceived HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination attitudes were pervasive in the study sample. A third or more of men and women reported that they would not care for a HIV+ family member. Compared to wives, husbands had a significantly increased odds of reporting any perceived HIV/AIDS-related stigmatizing attitude (OR=1.56; 95% CI=1.04-2.45) and HIV/AIDS knowledge significantly moderated this relationship holding socio-demographic factors constant. Discussion: In order to reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in India, the study demonstrates the importance of differentially targeting married men and women while concomitantly increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge in programming efforts.

Learning Objectives:

Describe socio-cultural correlates of perceived HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination
Evaluate conditional logistic regression models that explain perceived HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination
Understand gender differences and the modifying role of HIV/AIDS knowledge with respect to perceived HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination
Identify socio-cultural factors that should be targeted in HIV/AIDS programming and stigma-reduction interventions

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Gender

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA