HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in Western China: a population-based cross-sectional study
Abstract Background The persistence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and/or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings remains a critical issue that urgently requires attention to effectively control HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study aimed to...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11311-9 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849238072596627456 |
|---|---|
| author | Siyan Jia Cen Yue Lili Zhang Li Liu Maoling Yang Yanqing Zhang Jiaxin Liu Min Luo Jing Zhang Xing Qu Junmei Wu Qin Jiang Tingting Luo Yan Zhang Weixin Liu |
| author_facet | Siyan Jia Cen Yue Lili Zhang Li Liu Maoling Yang Yanqing Zhang Jiaxin Liu Min Luo Jing Zhang Xing Qu Junmei Wu Qin Jiang Tingting Luo Yan Zhang Weixin Liu |
| author_sort | Siyan Jia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The persistence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and/or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings remains a critical issue that urgently requires attention to effectively control HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination and explore the influencing factors among healthcare providers in western China, in order to inform decision-making regarding the reduction of stigma and discrimination intervention. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2023 and July 2024, and 24,646 (with a response rate of 98.6%) healthcare providers completed the survey using a concise and standardized instrument, including sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, healthcare institutional policies and guidelines, attitudes and opinions about people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV), as well as discriminatory behaviors. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the influencing factors of HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers. Results The proportions of healthcare providers expressing concerns about dressing wounds and drawing blood were 65.1% and 60.3%, respectively. Approximately 40% of the participants believed that most PLHIV did not care if they infected others and had multiple sexual partners. Healthcare providers experienced more secondary stigma and discrimination in the provision of services to PLHIV than direct stigma and discrimination against PLHIV. 67.1% of the respondents agreed that PLHIV should be allowed to have babies if they wish. 71-98% indicated that their institutions had related policies and guidelines to protect HIV/AIDS patients from discrimination. HIV/AIDS-related discriminatory behaviors were higher among healthcare providers who had lower levels of education and training, worked in private or infectious disease hospitals or hospitals with inadequate policies, provided face to face services to PLHIV, and had higher levels of stigmatizing attitudes (P < 0.05). Conclusions HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers were prevalent in western China. The factors identified in the study which were associated with higher HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination may provide valuable insights for mitigating these negative associations, and more coordinated and multifaceted approaches and interventions need to be implemented to effectively reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3716950cc42142fdbc4bdea19ada3c87 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-3716950cc42142fdbc4bdea19ada3c872025-08-20T04:01:47ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-07-0125111310.1186/s12879-025-11311-9HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in Western China: a population-based cross-sectional studySiyan Jia0Cen Yue1Lili Zhang2Li Liu3Maoling Yang4Yanqing Zhang5Jiaxin Liu6Min Luo7Jing Zhang8Xing Qu9Junmei Wu10Qin Jiang11Tingting Luo12Yan Zhang13Weixin Liu14Obstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeObstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeObstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeObstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeObstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeObstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeObstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeObstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeObstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeInstitute of Hospital Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityLiangshan Maternal and Child Health Care HospitalYibin Maternal and Child Health Care HospitalDazhou Maternal and Child Health Care HospitalObstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeObstetrics Department, Sichuan Provincial Women’s and Children’s Hospital, The Affiliated Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Chengdu Medical CollegeAbstract Background The persistence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and/or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings remains a critical issue that urgently requires attention to effectively control HIV/AIDS epidemic. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination and explore the influencing factors among healthcare providers in western China, in order to inform decision-making regarding the reduction of stigma and discrimination intervention. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2023 and July 2024, and 24,646 (with a response rate of 98.6%) healthcare providers completed the survey using a concise and standardized instrument, including sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, healthcare institutional policies and guidelines, attitudes and opinions about people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV), as well as discriminatory behaviors. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the influencing factors of HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers. Results The proportions of healthcare providers expressing concerns about dressing wounds and drawing blood were 65.1% and 60.3%, respectively. Approximately 40% of the participants believed that most PLHIV did not care if they infected others and had multiple sexual partners. Healthcare providers experienced more secondary stigma and discrimination in the provision of services to PLHIV than direct stigma and discrimination against PLHIV. 67.1% of the respondents agreed that PLHIV should be allowed to have babies if they wish. 71-98% indicated that their institutions had related policies and guidelines to protect HIV/AIDS patients from discrimination. HIV/AIDS-related discriminatory behaviors were higher among healthcare providers who had lower levels of education and training, worked in private or infectious disease hospitals or hospitals with inadequate policies, provided face to face services to PLHIV, and had higher levels of stigmatizing attitudes (P < 0.05). Conclusions HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers were prevalent in western China. The factors identified in the study which were associated with higher HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination may provide valuable insights for mitigating these negative associations, and more coordinated and multifaceted approaches and interventions need to be implemented to effectively reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11311-9HIV/AIDSStigmaDiscriminationHealthcare providers |
| spellingShingle | Siyan Jia Cen Yue Lili Zhang Li Liu Maoling Yang Yanqing Zhang Jiaxin Liu Min Luo Jing Zhang Xing Qu Junmei Wu Qin Jiang Tingting Luo Yan Zhang Weixin Liu HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in Western China: a population-based cross-sectional study BMC Infectious Diseases HIV/AIDS Stigma Discrimination Healthcare providers |
| title | HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in Western China: a population-based cross-sectional study |
| title_full | HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in Western China: a population-based cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in Western China: a population-based cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in Western China: a population-based cross-sectional study |
| title_short | HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in Western China: a population-based cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | hiv aids related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in western china a population based cross sectional study |
| topic | HIV/AIDS Stigma Discrimination Healthcare providers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11311-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT siyanjia hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT cenyue hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT lilizhang hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT liliu hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT maolingyang hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT yanqingzhang hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT jiaxinliu hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT minluo hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT jingzhang hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT xingqu hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT junmeiwu hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT qinjiang hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT tingtingluo hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT yanzhang hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy AT weixinliu hivaidsrelatedstigmaanddiscriminationamonghealthcareprovidersinwesternchinaapopulationbasedcrosssectionalstudy |