Antiretroviral therapy and changing patterns of HIV stigmatisation in Entebbe, Uganda

Russell, Steve, Zalwango, Flavia, Namukwaya, Stella, Katongole, Joseph, Muhumuza, Richard, Nalugya, Ruth and Seeley, Janet (2016) Antiretroviral therapy and changing patterns of HIV stigmatisation in Entebbe, Uganda. Sociology of Health & Illness, 38 (1). 58–72. ISSN 0141-9889

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Abstract

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has the potential to change processes of HIV stigmatisation. In this article, changing processes of stigmatisation among a group of people living with HIV (PLWH) on ART in Wakiso District, Uganda, are analysed using qualitative data from a study of PLWH’s self-management of HIV on ART. There were 38 respondents (20 women, 18 men) who had been taking ART for at least 1 year. They were purposefully selected from government and non-government ART providers. Two in-depth interviews were held with each participant. Processes of reduced self-stigmatisation were clearly evident, caused by the recovery of their physical appearance and support from health workers. However most participants continued to conceal their status because they anticipated stigma; for example, they feared gossip, rejection and their status being used against them. Anticipated stigma was gendered: women expressed greater fear of enacted forms of stigma such as rejection by their partner; in contrast men’s fears focused on gossip, loss of dignity and self-stigmatisation. The evidence indicates that ART has not reduced underlying structural drivers of stigmatisation, notably gender identities and inequalities, and that interventions are still required to mitigate and tackle stigmatisation, such as counselling, peer-led education and support groups that can help PLWH reconstruct alternative and more positive identities.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2015 The Authors. Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for SHIL. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	hiv,stigma,chronic illness,developing countries,interaction,gender,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Health and Disease
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	06 Jan 2016 15:02
Last Modified:	21 Oct 2022 02:35
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/56091
DOI:	10.1111/1467-9566.12341

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