Makoae L.N., Portillo C.J., Uys L.R., Dlamini P.S., Greeff M., Chirwa M., Kohi T.W., Naidoo J., Mullan J., Wantland D., Durrheim K., Holzemer W.L.
National University of Lesotho, P.O. Roma 180, Lesotho, South Africa; University of California, San Francisco, Box 0608, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, United States; School of Nursing, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Swaziland, P.O. Box 369, Mbabane, Swaziland; North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Kamuzu College of Nursing, University of Malawi, Private Bag 360, Blantyre, Malawi; Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65004, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; University of California, San Francisco, Box 0612, 3333 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94143-0612, United States; School of Psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa
Makoae, L.N., National University of Lesotho, P.O. Roma 180, Lesotho, South Africa; Portillo, C.J., University of California, San Francisco, Box 0608, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, United States; Uys, L.R., School of Nursing, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa; Dlamini, P.S., Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Swaziland, P.O. Box 369, Mbabane, Swaziland; Greeff, M., North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Chirwa, M., Kamuzu College of Nursing, University of Malawi, Private Bag 360, Blantyre, Malawi; Kohi, T.W., Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65004, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Naidoo, J., School of Nursing, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa; Mullan, J., University of California, San Francisco, Box 0612, 3333 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94143-0612, United States; Wantland, D., University of California, San Francisco, Box 0608, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, United States; Durrheim, K., School of Psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa; Holzemer, W.L., University of California, San Francisco, Box 0608, 2 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608, United States
Aim. This study examined the impact of taking or not taking antiretroviral (ARV) medications on stigma, as reported by people living with HIV infection in five African countries. Design. A two group (taking or not taking ARVs) by three (time) repeated measures analysis of variance examined change in reported stigma in a cohort sample of 1454 persons living with HIV infection in Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, and Tanzania. Participants self-reported taking ARV medications and completed a standardized stigma scale validated in the African context. Data were collected at three points in time, from January 2006 to March 2007. Participants taking ARV medications self-reported a mean CD4 count of 273 and those not taking ARVs self-reported a mean CD4 count of 418. Results. Both groups reported significant decreases in total HIV stigma over time; however, people taking ARVs reported significantly higher stigma at Time 3 compared to those not taking ARVs. Discussion. This study documents that this sample of 1454 HIV infected persons in five countries in Africa reported significantly less HIV stigma over time. In addition, those participants taking ARV medications experienced significantly higher HIV stigma over time compared to those not taking ARVs. This finding contradicts some authors' opinions that when clients enroll in ARV medication treatment it signifies that they are experiencing less stigma. This work provides caution to health care providers to alert clients new to ARV treatment that they may experience more stigma from their families and communities when they learn they are taking ARV medications. © 2009 Taylor & Francis.