Social Acceptance for Patients Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Kerman and Rafsanjan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Social acceptance in patients with HIV/AIDS is defined as the supports and aids offered by the community around them, which often leads to a better prognosis. If social acceptance is found significantly lower in HIV/AIDS-positive patients, proper planning can be designed to increase the knowledge, awareness and cultural level of society to promote patient acceptance. Objectives: This research was designed to determine social acceptance in patients infected with HIV/AIDS, referred to the health center of Rafsanjan and the behavioral consultation center in Kerman, Iran, in 2013. Patients and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 130 HIV/AIDS-infected patients were enrolled. They filled in the Marlowe-Crowne social acceptance questionnaire and their answers were evaluated according to the questionnaire key. The scores were calculated with statistical t-test and analyzed by SPSS software version 16. Results: Ninety (74.6%) patients were male and 33 (25.4%) were female. They were in the age range of 20-60 years old. Fifty four (41.5%) patients had moderate social acceptance and 76 (58.5%) had high social acceptance scores. Conclusions: Among the variables including age, gender, education, occupation, residential area, marital status, family history of HIV/AIDS, family history of psychiatric disorders, and CD4 lymphocytes count, the relationship between gender, familial history of psychiatric disorders and CD4 lymphocytes count on one hand and the social acceptance on the other hand were significant (P value < 0.05). It means that males with a family history of psychological disorders and patients with high CD4 lymphocytes count level had less social acceptance than others.

A Secondary Analysis of Peer Support and Family Acceptance Among Homosexual Living with HIV and Antiretroviral Therapy: Quality of Life Perspectives

“…This result was similar to the findings of a previous study, which 90.4% patients had strong family support, and most were satisfied with disclosing their HIV status (Xu et al, 2017). MSM who have higher family acceptance can demonstrate better emotional responses than their counterparts, but this factor does not significantly affect one's risky sexual behavior (Bidaki et al, 2017;Mitrani et al, 2017). MSM who receive high family acceptance typically demonstrate increased self-esteem, good health condition, and good social interaction.…”

“…MSM who receive high family acceptance typically demonstrate increased self-esteem, good health condition, and good social interaction. MSM who have been rejected from their family are highly likely to have mental health issues, suicidal tendencies, depression, and highrisk sexual behavior (Katz-Wise et al, 2016;Ryan et al, 2010;Woodward & Pantalone, 2016;Bidaki et al, 2017). However, MSM who have strong social support seems to have fear of rejection into their family (Bilardi et al, 2019).…”

Social Acceptance for Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis from Their Own Perspective in Rafsanjan, Iran: A Cross Sectional Study

“…On the other hand, if people are away from society, they may suffer from emotional deprivation and numbness. By being present in society, however, they will feel better about each other and learn to solve and deal with problems (9).…”