Stigma in AIDS nursing care in sub-saharan Africa and the Caribbean
Mill, J.; Harrowing, J.; Rae, T.; Richter, S.; Minnie, K.; Mbalinda, S.; Hepburn-Brown, C.
Qualitative Health Research 23(8): 1066-1078
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1049-7323 PMID: 23771634 DOI: 10.1177/1049732313494019Document Number: 272909
Some nurses who provide AIDS care, in addition to experiencing stigma themselves, also exhibit negative attitudes and perpetrate stigma and discrimination toward persons living with HIV (PLWHAs). We used a participatory research approach to explore the nature, context, and influence of stigma on the nursing care provided to PLWHAs in four low- and middle-income countries: Jamaica, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. Eighty-four registered nurses, enrolled nurses, and midwives participated in interviews and 79 participated in 11 focus groups. Nurses were very aware of the stigma and discrimination that AIDS evoked, and made adjustments to their care to decrease the manifestation of AIDS stigma. Despite the assurance that PLWHAs were treated equally, and that universal precautions were used consistently, we found that in reality, nurses sometimes made decisions about nursing care that were based on the appearance of the patient or knowledge of his or her status.