Abstract:

People living with HIV (PLHIV) often face stigma and discrimination in health care settings, significantly impacting their self-esteem and treatment adherence, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the professional competence, and knowledge of health care workers about HIV. It also explored their attitudes and practices regarding stigmatization and discrimination against PLHIV. A cross-sectional survey using structured questionnaires was conducted, with data analyzed manually via Excel. Among the 195 respondents, 37% were aged 36–45, and 28.5% were 26–35 years old. Respondents included nurses (35%), doctors (18%), and medical records staff (20%). Findings revealed a high stigma prevalence, with 62% believing PLHIV should feel ashamed and 90% unwilling to provide services to men who have sex with men if given a choice. While 60% agreed that adequate infection prevention supplies were available, 51% still feared infection from touching PLHIV clothing. Alarmingly, 97% had not received training on addressing stigma and discrimination. The study recommends a health promotion multi-sectoral approach to combat stigma and discrimination in health facilities. Regular training and retraining of health workers on HIV prevention, infection control, and stigma reduction are essential to improve care for PLHIV.

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