The role of emotions in the reduction of HIV/AIDS stigma among physicians in training

Abstract

Scientific literature has systematically documented the negative effects of social stigma for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). HIV/AIDS stigma has the potential to negatively impact self-care strategies for those already affected, and simultaneously hinder prevention efforts to deter the emergence of new infections. When health professionals manifest these negative attitudes access to quality health-care and prevention strategies can be seriously affected. Scientifically tested interventions to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma among health professionals are still scarce. Although the number of tested interventions has increased over the past decade, few of them target Latino health professionals or Spanish-speaking populations. Furthermore, although some of those interventions have been reported as effective for stigma reduction, more work is needed to better understand the underlying variables that account for the reduction of stigma attitudes in those efforts. The SPACES intervention has been documented as an effective HIV/AIDS stigma-reduction intervention focusing on health-care professionals in training. The intervention, which is delivered in Spanish, has been previously tested with medical students in Puerto Rico and shown significant results in addressing negative attitudes toward PLWHA. The main objective of this study was to document the underlying variables that fostered reduction of HIV/AIDS stigma due to participation in the SPACES intervention. Results evidence that health professionals in training who participated in the intervention (n = 507) had less stigmatizing attitudes toward PLWHA due to an increase in their positive emotions toward this population. In light of these results, we discuss the importance of engaging health professionals in HIV/AIDS stigma-reduction interventions that go beyond the provision of information and skills for interacting with PLWHA, and address the emotional component of HIV/AIDS stigma.

Factors related to the perceived stigmatization of people living with HIV

“…With the appearance of AIDS in the 1980s as an epidemic apparently restricted to homosexuals, drug users and sex workers, a stigma against people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) also emerged (1)(2)(3) . A stigma is considered a defect or a label that defines others, diminishing them through negative stereotypes, discriminatory and prejudiced labels (1,(3)(4) .…”

“…A stigma is considered a defect or a label that defines others, diminishing them through negative stereotypes, discriminatory and prejudiced labels (1,(3)(4) . Thus, in addition to the clinical changes that HIV can bring to people's lives, the stigma can also cause serious social and psychological damage due to feelings of inferiority (1,(4)(5) , which significantly increase anxiety, loneliness, depression and the desire to die, reducing self-esteem and self-confidence, which lead to social and sexual isolation of people living with HIV (4,6) .…”

Pengetahuan Dan Stigma Perawat Terkait Orang Dengan Hiv/Aids (Odha)

“…Kesalahpahaman akan penularan atau transmisi tentang HIV/AIDS menjadi penyebab utama terjadinya sikap stigma dan diskriminasi yang dilakukan oleh tenaga kesehatan. Stigma yang dilakukan oleh tenaga kesehatan akan menjadi penghalang atau hambatan saat ODHA melakukan pengobatan sehingga proses pengobatan tersebut tidak efektif (Varas-Diaz et al, 2016).…”

“…Pada bagian emosi, para peserta pelatihan diberikan informasi tentang peran emosi negatif (takut, malu, jijik, dan lain-lain) yang berpengaruh terhadap mempercepat sikap dan perilaku stigma yang kemudian peserta diberikan kasus dan peserta menjelaskan emosi yang mereka alami. Terjadinya peningkatan emosi positif saat interaksi sosial dan pelayanan kesehatan terhadap ODHA memberikan hasil yang signifikan dalam menurunkan stigma (Varas-Diaz et al, 2016).…”

“…Cara yang dapat digunakan dengan melakukan pelatihan tentang pencegahan infeksi HIV/AIDS, saat melakukan intervensi kepada ODHA perawat menggunakan alat pelindung (sarung tangan, pelindung kepala, kacamata, masker, gaun, sepatu, dan lainlain) yang disesuaikan dengan tindakan yang dilakukan, memberikan informasi yang jelas dan akurat mengenai HIV/AIDS (khususnya tentang cara penularan), adanya kurikulum tentang cara merawat ODHA saat menjadi mahasiswa keperawatan, memberikan pelatihan dengan SPACE intervention atau program Train The Trainer kepada tenaga kesehatan, dan kebijakan yang jelas dari pemerintah (Badahdah, 2010;Famoroti, Fernandes, & Chima, 2013;Nyamathi et al, 2008;Okpala et al, 2017;Shah et al, 2014;USAID, 2007;Varas-Diaz et al, 2016;Zarai et al, 2015).…”