Perceived stigma and the role of BMI on perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Ethiopia
BackgroundPeople living with HIV/AIDS are at an increased risk of perceived HIV-related stigma. The effectiveness of social support for perceived HIV-related stigma is hampered by high depression. Although there is evidence that being underweight is associated with perceived HIV-related stigma, the...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1404896/full |
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| author | Fikreab Desta Demisu Zenbaba Biniyam Sahiledengle Shifera Metaferia Tesfaye Desalegn Degefa Gomora Chala Kene Girma Beressa Telila Mesfin Pammla Petruka Lillian Mwanri |
| author_facet | Fikreab Desta Demisu Zenbaba Biniyam Sahiledengle Shifera Metaferia Tesfaye Desalegn Degefa Gomora Chala Kene Girma Beressa Telila Mesfin Pammla Petruka Lillian Mwanri |
| author_sort | Fikreab Desta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundPeople living with HIV/AIDS are at an increased risk of perceived HIV-related stigma. The effectiveness of social support for perceived HIV-related stigma is hampered by high depression. Although there is evidence that being underweight is associated with perceived HIV-related stigma, the mechanism is not well known. This study aimed to assess perceived HIV-related and the role of body mass index (BMI) on perceived HIV-related stigma in Southeast Ethiopia.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 547 randomly selected HIV/AIDS patients in Southeast Ethiopia. Perceived HIV-related stigma was assessed using a 10-item perceived HIV stigma scale assessment tool. Descriptive statistics were computed, and the data were analyzed by logistic regression, correlation, and mediation model.ResultsThe magnitude of perceived HIV-related stigma was found to be 68% [95% CI: (64.1%, 71.9%)] among participants. Patients with low social support [AOR=1.5, 95% CI: (1.05, 2.40)], a body mass index (BMI) of <18.5 kg/m2 (kilogram per meter squared) [(AOR = 5, 95% CI: (2.30, 11.0)], and non-adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) [(AOR: 5, 95% CI: (1.03, 3.05)] were significantly associated with perceived HIV-related stigma. In mediation, the results indicated that the total mediation effect (B = -0.62, 95% CI [-0.828, 0.404]), direct effect (B = -0.30, 95% CI [-0.554, -0.046]), and depression played a chain mediating role (indirect effect) (B = -0.41, 95% CI [-0.557, -0.261]) were significant.ConclusionThe prevalence of perceived HIV-related stigma was found high. Patients with poor social support and non-adherent to HAART were more likely to suffer from HIV-related perceived stigma. Our findings suggest that there is a relationship between body mass index and perceived HIV-related stigma, while depression can indirectly predict perceived HIV-related stigma. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cfdf70f1475d4f218743b658ef014bc7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-cfdf70f1475d4f218743b658ef014bc72025-08-20T03:58:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-07-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.14048961404896Perceived stigma and the role of BMI on perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast EthiopiaFikreab Desta0Demisu Zenbaba1Biniyam Sahiledengle2Shifera Metaferia3Tesfaye Desalegn4Degefa Gomora5Chala Kene6Girma Beressa7Telila Mesfin8Pammla Petruka9Lillian Mwanri10Department of Public Health, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, EthiopiaDepartment of Laboratory, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, EthiopiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, EthiopiaDepartment of Public Health, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, EthiopiaSchool of Medicine, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Bale Goba, EthiopiaNursing Education, University Saskatchewan College of Nursing, Saskatoon, SK, CanadaResearch Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing, Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaBackgroundPeople living with HIV/AIDS are at an increased risk of perceived HIV-related stigma. The effectiveness of social support for perceived HIV-related stigma is hampered by high depression. Although there is evidence that being underweight is associated with perceived HIV-related stigma, the mechanism is not well known. This study aimed to assess perceived HIV-related and the role of body mass index (BMI) on perceived HIV-related stigma in Southeast Ethiopia.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 547 randomly selected HIV/AIDS patients in Southeast Ethiopia. Perceived HIV-related stigma was assessed using a 10-item perceived HIV stigma scale assessment tool. Descriptive statistics were computed, and the data were analyzed by logistic regression, correlation, and mediation model.ResultsThe magnitude of perceived HIV-related stigma was found to be 68% [95% CI: (64.1%, 71.9%)] among participants. Patients with low social support [AOR=1.5, 95% CI: (1.05, 2.40)], a body mass index (BMI) of <18.5 kg/m2 (kilogram per meter squared) [(AOR = 5, 95% CI: (2.30, 11.0)], and non-adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) [(AOR: 5, 95% CI: (1.03, 3.05)] were significantly associated with perceived HIV-related stigma. In mediation, the results indicated that the total mediation effect (B = -0.62, 95% CI [-0.828, 0.404]), direct effect (B = -0.30, 95% CI [-0.554, -0.046]), and depression played a chain mediating role (indirect effect) (B = -0.41, 95% CI [-0.557, -0.261]) were significant.ConclusionThe prevalence of perceived HIV-related stigma was found high. Patients with poor social support and non-adherent to HAART were more likely to suffer from HIV-related perceived stigma. Our findings suggest that there is a relationship between body mass index and perceived HIV-related stigma, while depression can indirectly predict perceived HIV-related stigma.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1404896/fullperceived HIV-related stigmaHIV/AIDSEthiopiaPLWHIVdepression |
| spellingShingle | Fikreab Desta Demisu Zenbaba Biniyam Sahiledengle Shifera Metaferia Tesfaye Desalegn Degefa Gomora Chala Kene Girma Beressa Telila Mesfin Pammla Petruka Lillian Mwanri Perceived stigma and the role of BMI on perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Ethiopia Frontiers in Psychiatry perceived HIV-related stigma HIV/AIDS Ethiopia PLWHIV depression |
| title | Perceived stigma and the role of BMI on perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Ethiopia |
| title_full | Perceived stigma and the role of BMI on perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Perceived stigma and the role of BMI on perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived stigma and the role of BMI on perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Ethiopia |
| title_short | Perceived stigma and the role of BMI on perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Ethiopia |
| title_sort | perceived stigma and the role of bmi on perceived hiv related stigma among people living with hiv aids in southeast ethiopia |
| topic | perceived HIV-related stigma HIV/AIDS Ethiopia PLWHIV depression |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1404896/full |
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