AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #163 - Community group membership and stigmatising attitudes towards people living with HIV in eastern Zimbabwe
Authors: Presenting Author: Prof Simon Gregson - Imperial College London
Additional Authors: Ms. Mercy Nhamo, Prof. Catherine Campbell,
Aim: Stigmatising attitudes towards people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) are hampering attempts to control HIV epidemics in sub-Saharan African countries. This study measures the effect of social capital, in the form of local community groups, in reducing stigma and tests a new explanatory framework for the causal pathway between community group membership and less stigmatising attitudes.
Method / Issue: Data on membership of a wide range of different community groups and stigmatising attitudes (being unwilling to care for a relative with AIDS) collected from 6,220 men and 9,376 women aged 15-54 years in a population survey in eastern Zimbabwe between 2003 and 2005 were analysed using multivariable logistic regression.
Results / Comments: 34% of men and 58% of women were members of at least one functional community group. Fewer of the individuals who participated in community groups than those who didn’t reported stigmatising attitudes towards PLHIV – men: 4.5% versus 6.4% (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.76, p < 0.05); women: 4.6% versus 8.1%, (aOR = 0.70, p < 0.001). These effects were explained by social spaces for dialogue about HIV/AIDS created by community groups which improved knowledge about HIV/AIDS, increased uptake of voluntary counselling and testing for HIV, and increased personal exposure to PLHIV - all individual-level properties associated with less stigmatising attitudes towards PLHIV.
Discussion: These findings suggest that supporting community groups and promoting discussions about HIV and AIDS within groups could be an effective means of reducing stigma.
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