Factors Associated With HIV-Related Stigma Toward Colleagues in the Health Care Workforce in South Africa

摘要

South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV in the world, and health care workers (HCWs) are as likely to be infected as the general population. Stigma in health care settings has severe implications for HCWs and health facilities when HCWs with HIV delay or avoid seeking care, causing increased morbidity and mortality. We explored factors associated with HIV stigma toward colleagues. A representative sample of 882 HCWs from 8 hospitals was surveyed in the Free State, South Africa. We applied multigroup structural equation modeling to compare effects between 3 professional categories. In all 3 groups, there was a significant negative relationship between stigmatizing attitudes against other co-workers and knowing a colleague living with HIV, having a colleague who worked to reduce stigma in the workplace, and having basic HIV knowledge. Our results have implications for understanding and crafting interventions to reduce HIV stigma among HCWs.