Factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus stigma (HIV) among health care workers in Hulu Langat, Selangor

Introduction: Globally, stigma towards people living with HIV will cause less effectiveness towards HIV prevention, testing and treatment. In the health facilities setting, this problem is a very serious barrier to access the health care. The stigma towards HIV was significantly predicted by several factors such as personal perception, behaviour and environment. Objective: The objectives of this study are to determine the factors associated with HIV stigma and the predictors among health care workers in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. Methodology: This cross sectional study was carried out among health care workers in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. The sample size involved 413 respondents. Study population consisted of all the health care workers from all the health clinics in Hulu Langat Health District Office. Simple random sampling was applied, whereby professional group and supporting group one staff in Hulu Langat Health Clinics was selected randomly using random number generator. Comprehensive Questionnaire: Self administered questionnaire based on Stigma Index Tool was used. All data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22 involving descriptive, chi square and Multiple Logistic Regression analysis. Result/Conclusion: The response rate was 81.6%. The level of HIV stigmatising behaviour among the health care workers in Hulu Langat, Selangor was 54.5%. Out of seven factors, three of them had a significant association with level of HIV stigmatising behaviour which were age (p = 0.038), current job status (p = 0.014) and personal perception (p = 0.001). The key findings from the analysis were that the personal perception of healthcare workers predicted their stigmatising behaviour (R2= 0.078, p < 0.05). There was, however, no significant relationship between environmental factors and stigmatising behaviour as well as between personal perception and environmental factors. The social change implications may be to reduce stigma among healthcare workers toward people living with HIV and in turn increase the willingness of healthcare workers to engage with people living with HIV and provide quality service to them.

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