Correlates of HIV-Related Self-stigma Among Female Sex Workers in Malaysia

Abstract

Background: Not much is known about correlates of HIV-related self-stigma among female sex workers. Using the theory of planned behavior in the Malaysian context, this study investigated the relationships of HIV knowledge, attitudes towards HIV, attitudes towards people living with HIV, perceived social support, self-esteem, and age with HIV-related self-stigma, also how much of the variance in HIV-related self-stigma is explained by the variables. Methods: Self-administered close-ended questionnaires were administered to 134 female sex workers, as a subgroup of HIV-at-risk individuals, selected using a combination of snowball and respondent-driven sampling methods. Results: Self-administered close-ended questionnaires were administered to 134 female sex workers, as a subgroup of HIV-at-risk individuals, selected using a combination of snowball and respondent-driven sampling methods. Results: A majority of the respondents substantially stigmatized themselves, despite good HIV knowledge, high self-esteem, and favorable attitudes towards both HIV and people living with HIV. Attitudes towards HIV was more favorable than attitudes towards people living with HIV. The respondents received higher social supports from a special person, followed by friends, and family members. Age, attitudes towards HIV, and attitudes towards people living with HIV were significantly and negatively correlated with HIVrelated self-stigma. Age, attitudes towards HIV, and attitudes towards people living with HIV collectively explained 18% of the variance in HIV-related self-stigma. Conclusion: HIV knowledge, perceived social support and self-esteem did not enter the final model to explain variance in HIV-related self-stigma. This study advances our understanding by clarifying the relative contribution of age, attitudes towards HIV, and people living with HIV in the variance of HIV-related self-stigma among female sex workers at risk of HIV.

Correlates of never testing for HIV among men who have sex with men in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study

“…While internalized factors such as self-perception or stigma are associated with the delay in testing, the lack of education and social stigma also play a role. Literature exploring AIDS/HIV-related stigma suggests that more efforts have been put into interventions aimed at addressing internalized stigma than those that address the social stigma and education surrounding HIV testing in Malaysia [ 27 , 28 ]. Our findings reiterate previous postulates stating the lack of programs and interventions that address social and structural differences like ethnicity and age in Malaysian MSM are associated with never testing for HIV [ 9 , 19 , 21 , 22 ].…”