HIV testing, AIDS-related stigma, and HIV risk behaviors in Masiphumelele, South Africa

This study examined the associations between HIV testing, AIDS-related stigma and HIV risk behaviors. It was hypothesized that individuals who have tested for HIV would have a significantly less stigmatized view of HIV and would engage less in HIV risky behaviors than individuals who have not been tested.. Data were collected from a cross-sectional community survey among 293 men and 451 women 14 years and older in Masiphumelele. Fifty-nine percent of participants had been tested for HIV. Preliminary analyses showed that 15% (n= 113) would not share a meal with a person they knew had HIV or AIDS, and 14.4% (n = 107) would not buy food from a shopkeeper or food seller if they knew he/she was infected with HIV. Nearly all associations between HIV testing, AIDS stigma, and HIV risk behaviors were not statistically significant (p>.05) when chi-square tests were repeated with HIV testing as a control variable. This finding suggests that HIV testing alone is not the only determinant of people's view of AIDS stigma and behaviors. However sexual risk remains high in this community with 40% (n = 302) of participants who don't know the HIV status of their current partner and among those with whom they had sex in the past 6 months 27% (n=155) did not use a condom. Efforts to prevent new HIV infections in South Africa require education about the benefits of testing, and more efforts are needed to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma which can decrease in risky behaviors.