Community environment and HIV/AIDS-related stigma in China
Chen, J.; Choe, M.K.; Chen, S.; Zhang, S.
Aids Education and Prevention Official Publication of the International Society for Aids Education 17(1): 1-11
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0899-9546 PMID: 15843106 DOI: 10.1521/aeap.17.1.1.58689Document Number: 240309
This article examines the contextual effects of community environment on individual stigmatizing attitudes toward people with HIV/AIDS in China. Multilevel logistic regression models are used to analyze data on 5,658 respondents aged 15-49 from 66 communities in the Baseline Information, Education, and Communication Survey for HIV/AIDS Prevention in China, conducted by the State Family Planning Commission in 2000. The results show that a high level of HIV/AIDS-related risk behavior in the community and a low level of community development are associated with increased HIV/AIDS-related stigma, after controlling for respondents' sociodemographic characteristics, including extent of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The findings suggest that interventions for reducing HIV/AIDS-related stigma in China should take into account community characteristics, such as level of HIV/AIDS-related risk behavior and level of development in the community.