The effects of individual- and community-level knowledge, beliefs, and fear on stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS in China

Abstract

This paper assesses the effects of individual- and community-level knowledge of HIV transmission, beliefs and fear of infection on individual attitudes toward and willingness to interact with people living with HIV/AIDS in China. Data are from a sample survey of 12,270 men and women age 15-49 from seven provinces/municipalities. The survey was conducted by the Population and Family Planning Commission in December 2003. Multilevel regression analyses show that stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS is strongly associated with community-level HIV knowledge and fear, even after taking into account HIV knowledge and fear at the individual level. The findings suggest that individual attitudes are partially shaped through social learning and social influence. Public-health interventions aimed at eliminating stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS will need to pay special attention to social and community influences while continuously working to enhance HIV knowledge and reduce inaccurate beliefs and fear.

AIDS Knowledge and HIV Stigma among Children Affected by HIV/AIDS in Rural China

“…Another finding of this study is that children with better AIDS knowledge had less personal stigma toward PLWHA. The result is consistent with findings of other studies in China that have demonstrated the important role of improvement of AIDS knowledge in reducing stigma toward PLWHA (Chen, Choe, Chen, & Zhang, 2007;Lau & Tsui, 2005;Sullivan et al, 2010). The current study confirmed that dissemination of accurate AIDS knowledge may be important for the reduction of HIVrelated stigma among children.…”

Stigma Reported by People Living With HIV in South Central China

“…One of the reasons people hold negative attitudes toward PLWH is because of a low level of knowledge and frequent misconceptions about HIV infection. A survey of 12,270 persons in seven provinces in China showed that only 43% had accurate HIV knowledge (Chen, Choe, Chen, & Zhang, 2007). In Anhui province with one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in China, 17% of the rural residents had never heard of HIV or AIDS (Liu et al, 2006).…”

Influences of Stigma and HIV Transmission Knowledge on Member Support for Faith-Placed HIV Initiatives in Chinese Immigrant Buddhist and Protestant Religious Institutions in New York City

“…However, it has been well established that HIV stigma and unfounded fears of contracting HIV significantly challenge the implementation of HIV programming in churches (Bluthenthal et al, 2012; Coleman, Lindley, Annang, Saunders, & Gaddist, 2012). Erroneous knowledge of HIV transmission, prevention, and treatment often perpetuated a perceived need for self-protection among religious groups that further excluded persons living with HIV/AIDS (Chen, Choe, Chen, & Zhang, 2007; Lew-Ting & Hsu, 2002; London & Robles, 2000; Takshashi, 1997). Studies, for example, have suggested a “co-occurrence” of correct and incorrect knowledge of HIV transmission and highlighted the importance of reinforcing knowledge of documented modes of transmission and correcting inaccurate transmission knowledge (Boer & Emons, 2004; London & Robles, 2000).…”