Temporal changes in HIV-related stigma and sexual behaviours: An examination of 22 African countries
Despite non-trivial success against the HIV epidemic, health experts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain concerned about new infections, stigma attitudes, and increasing rates of higher-risk sexual behaviours (HRSBs). Although this concern has produced voluminous scholarship on the behavioural conseq...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Global Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2405019 |
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| author | Danielle Denardo David A. Cort |
| author_facet | Danielle Denardo David A. Cort |
| author_sort | Danielle Denardo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite non-trivial success against the HIV epidemic, health experts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain concerned about new infections, stigma attitudes, and increasing rates of higher-risk sexual behaviours (HRSBs). Although this concern has produced voluminous scholarship on the behavioural consequences of belonging to stigmatised populations, scholars have only recently examined the behavioural consequences of holding stigmatising attitudes. Existing work generally finds a positive relationship between stigmatising beliefs and the practice of HRSBs. Yet, it is unknown whether this relationship has changed for countries over the past two decades. We fill this gap using Demographic and Health Survey data from 22 SSA countries. We first find that in most countries, the practice of HRSBs has increased, while stigma beliefs have become more tolerant. Second, the relationship between stigma beliefs and HRSBs changed in only six countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Lesotho. It changed from non-existent or negative to positive in Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, and Ethiopia, but non-existent to negative in Sierra Leone. In Lesotho, the positive association weakened over time. These findings highlight the importance of social and epidemic contexts when considering how stigma impacts sexual behaviours and HIV rates in SSA. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6ad9ef97f92347608f7de72967a63ceb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1744-1692 1744-1706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-6ad9ef97f92347608f7de72967a63ceb2024-12-03T19:27:48ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062024-12-0119110.1080/17441692.2024.2405019Temporal changes in HIV-related stigma and sexual behaviours: An examination of 22 African countriesDanielle Denardo0David A. Cort1Social and Behavioral Sciences, Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo, CA, USADepartment of Sociology, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, USADespite non-trivial success against the HIV epidemic, health experts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remain concerned about new infections, stigma attitudes, and increasing rates of higher-risk sexual behaviours (HRSBs). Although this concern has produced voluminous scholarship on the behavioural consequences of belonging to stigmatised populations, scholars have only recently examined the behavioural consequences of holding stigmatising attitudes. Existing work generally finds a positive relationship between stigmatising beliefs and the practice of HRSBs. Yet, it is unknown whether this relationship has changed for countries over the past two decades. We fill this gap using Demographic and Health Survey data from 22 SSA countries. We first find that in most countries, the practice of HRSBs has increased, while stigma beliefs have become more tolerant. Second, the relationship between stigma beliefs and HRSBs changed in only six countries: Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and Lesotho. It changed from non-existent or negative to positive in Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, and Ethiopia, but non-existent to negative in Sierra Leone. In Lesotho, the positive association weakened over time. These findings highlight the importance of social and epidemic contexts when considering how stigma impacts sexual behaviours and HIV rates in SSA.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2405019HIVAIDSAfricastigmasexual behavioursSDG 3: Good health and well-being |
| spellingShingle | Danielle Denardo David A. Cort Temporal changes in HIV-related stigma and sexual behaviours: An examination of 22 African countries Global Public Health HIV AIDS Africa stigma sexual behaviours SDG 3: Good health and well-being |
| title | Temporal changes in HIV-related stigma and sexual behaviours: An examination of 22 African countries |
| title_full | Temporal changes in HIV-related stigma and sexual behaviours: An examination of 22 African countries |
| title_fullStr | Temporal changes in HIV-related stigma and sexual behaviours: An examination of 22 African countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal changes in HIV-related stigma and sexual behaviours: An examination of 22 African countries |
| title_short | Temporal changes in HIV-related stigma and sexual behaviours: An examination of 22 African countries |
| title_sort | temporal changes in hiv related stigma and sexual behaviours an examination of 22 african countries |
| topic | HIV AIDS Africa stigma sexual behaviours SDG 3: Good health and well-being |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2405019 |
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