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Internalised and Social Experiences of HIV-Induced Stigma and Discrimination in Urban Ghana

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Abstract

HIV-induced stigma and discrimination remain a prevalent global challenge especially in low-income countries which may compromise the emotional and social well-being of people living with HIV (PLHIV). Despite the efforts so far, the incidence of HIV-related stigma remains high in Ghana. Drawing on the Goffman’s theory of social stigma and interpretivist research paradigm, the paper explores the lived experiences of 123 PLHIV in HIV-endemic cities in Ghana. Findings suggest that PLHIV largely suffer from three levels of stigma—internal, received and associated—with complex discriminatory dimensions. PLHIV are stigmatised and discriminated against at home, in the community and in institutional settings. This is manifested through familial neglect, social exclusion and poor access to jobs and health services. These prejudices presaged suicidal ideations, non-disclosure of HIV serostatus, poor adherence to treatment interventions and further spread of the epidemic. Progressive social and health policy framework and programmes on eradicating HIV are pressing. These should conspicuously include HIV-related stigma and discrimination through behavioural change and culturally acceptable public education about the myths and realities surrounding HIV in order to mitigate the associated debilitating outcomes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

    Abdul Alhassan Mumin, Alexander Yao Segbefia & David Forkuor

  2. Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, 8 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR

    Razak Mohammed Gyasi

  3. Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

    John Kuumuori Ganle

Authors
  1. Abdul Alhassan Mumin
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  2. Razak Mohammed Gyasi
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  3. Alexander Yao Segbefia
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  4. David Forkuor
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  5. John Kuumuori Ganle
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Correspondence to Razak Mohammed Gyasi.

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Ethical Approval and Study Protocol

All procedures undertaken in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. In line with the Declaration of Helsinki (1964), the ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Committee on Human Research Publication and Ethics (CHRPE), School of Medical Sciences at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana (Ref: CHRPE/AP/507/16).

All study participants and their heads of households were initially briefed on the main purposes of this study and all that was required of them. Participation was voluntary. Informed written and verbal consents were obtained from all research participants. Individual respondents were requested to sign or thumbprint a written informed consent form. Those who were not comfortable signing or thumb printing the written consent form were given the option to provide verbal consent. Respondents were assured of strict confidentiality and anonymity of the responses they provided. To protect the identity of the respondents, no names or other identifying features of the participants were collected.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Mumin, A.A., Gyasi, R.M., Segbefia, A.Y. et al. Internalised and Social Experiences of HIV-Induced Stigma and Discrimination in Urban Ghana. Glob Soc Welf 5, 83–93 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-018-0111-2

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