Evaluation of Stigma Index Among People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Six Cities in Iran

Stigma and discrimination are among the main barriers for health workers to provide appropriate and necessary services for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).. We conducted this study in Iran, to evaluate Stigma Index and the correlates.. In this cross-sectional study, 289 HIV positive patients were recruited from six cities in Iran (including Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad, Tabriz, Ahvaz and Kermanshah) to fill out the Farsi version of Stigma Index questionnaires through interviews that were arranged by two HIV infected persons for each city who were experienced data collectors.. Two hundred eighty nine HIV infected patients were interviewed by the trainers, out of which 90.3% and 9.7% were male and female, respectively. Most participants (47.8%) were in 30 - 39 years old age group. Sixty two point two percent of participants experienced external stigma and 98.62% subjects reported internal stigma. Significant associations between the cities and some items including external stigma, level of awareness regarding policies, rights and laws, feeling pressure to disclose HIV status and access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) were observed.. HIV patients have limited access to occupation, educational and health services. Policies should be made to target the high level of both perceived and external stigma among Iranian PLWHA..