Healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV

BackgroundHealthcare providers' discrimination practices against people with HIV is a real challenge for control and prevention efforts. The study aims to explore the association between healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV and HIV stigma-related construc...

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Main Authors: Almutaz M. Idris, Rik Crutzen, Hubertus W. van den Borne, Sarah E. Stutterheim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1464250/full
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author Almutaz M. Idris
Rik Crutzen
Hubertus W. van den Borne
Sarah E. Stutterheim
author_facet Almutaz M. Idris
Rik Crutzen
Hubertus W. van den Borne
Sarah E. Stutterheim
author_sort Almutaz M. Idris
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundHealthcare providers' discrimination practices against people with HIV is a real challenge for control and prevention efforts. The study aims to explore the association between healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV and HIV stigma-related constructs, their sociodemographic, and occupation characteristics in Sudan.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of healthcare providers was carried out in governmental hospitals in Kassala State, Sudan. Respondents completed measures assessing their intentions to discriminate against people with HIV, HIV-related stigma constructs, sociodemographic, and occupational characteristics. Bivariate and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess the associations between discriminatory intentions against people with HIV and the studied variables.ResultsA total of 387 participants (223 physicians and 164 nurses) completed the survey. Participants had relatively high intentions to discriminate against people with HIV (M = 5.19, SD = 1.34—on a scale from 1 to 7), prejudiced attitudes (M = 4.70, SD = 1.29), internalized shame about HIV (M = 5.19, SD = 1.34), fear of HIV (M = 4.65, SD = 1.39), and the belief that patients with HIV do not deserve good care (M = 4.90, SD = 1.35). Healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV was associated with prejudiced attitudes, internalized shame about HIV, fear of HIV, and the belief that people with HIV do not deserve good care. Female health care providers, nurses, and those with postgraduate degrees and fewer years of work experience were more likely to have a high intention to discriminate against people with HIV.ConclusionsIntention to discriminate against people with HIV was high among healthcare providers. Addressing HIV-related stigma constructs and understanding the differential effects of healthcare providers' sociodemographic and occupational characteristics on their discriminatory intentions are imperative to developing effective intervention to reduce intention to discriminate against people with HIV among healthcare providers.
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spelling doaj-art-1d2e2b44ec3c485f87a1839ee2f917a12025-08-20T02:52:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-03-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.14642501464250Healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIVAlmutaz M. Idris0Rik Crutzen1Hubertus W. van den Borne2Sarah E. Stutterheim3College of Applied Medical Science, Buraydah Colleges, Buraydah, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NetherlandsDepartment of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NetherlandsDepartment of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NetherlandsBackgroundHealthcare providers' discrimination practices against people with HIV is a real challenge for control and prevention efforts. The study aims to explore the association between healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV and HIV stigma-related constructs, their sociodemographic, and occupation characteristics in Sudan.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of healthcare providers was carried out in governmental hospitals in Kassala State, Sudan. Respondents completed measures assessing their intentions to discriminate against people with HIV, HIV-related stigma constructs, sociodemographic, and occupational characteristics. Bivariate and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess the associations between discriminatory intentions against people with HIV and the studied variables.ResultsA total of 387 participants (223 physicians and 164 nurses) completed the survey. Participants had relatively high intentions to discriminate against people with HIV (M = 5.19, SD = 1.34—on a scale from 1 to 7), prejudiced attitudes (M = 4.70, SD = 1.29), internalized shame about HIV (M = 5.19, SD = 1.34), fear of HIV (M = 4.65, SD = 1.39), and the belief that patients with HIV do not deserve good care (M = 4.90, SD = 1.35). Healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV was associated with prejudiced attitudes, internalized shame about HIV, fear of HIV, and the belief that people with HIV do not deserve good care. Female health care providers, nurses, and those with postgraduate degrees and fewer years of work experience were more likely to have a high intention to discriminate against people with HIV.ConclusionsIntention to discriminate against people with HIV was high among healthcare providers. Addressing HIV-related stigma constructs and understanding the differential effects of healthcare providers' sociodemographic and occupational characteristics on their discriminatory intentions are imperative to developing effective intervention to reduce intention to discriminate against people with HIV among healthcare providers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1464250/fullstigmahealthcare providerspeople with HIVpatient with HIVdiscriminationSudan
spellingShingle Almutaz M. Idris
Rik Crutzen
Hubertus W. van den Borne
Sarah E. Stutterheim
Healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV
Frontiers in Public Health
stigma
healthcare providers
people with HIV
patient with HIV
discrimination
Sudan
title Healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV
title_full Healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV
title_fullStr Healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV
title_full_unstemmed Healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV
title_short Healthcare providers' intention to discriminate against people with HIV
title_sort healthcare providers intention to discriminate against people with hiv
topic stigma
healthcare providers
people with HIV
patient with HIV
discrimination
Sudan
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1464250/full
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