“I Haven’t Told Other People. I Want to Keep My Dignity”: HIV Related Stigma Among the Elderly in Uganda [Letter]

Dear editor

We are writing to provide feedback on the article titled “I Haven’t Told Other People. I Want to Keep My Dignity: HIV-Related Stigma Among the Elderly in Uganda”.1 One of the key strengths of this study lies in its comprehensive exploration of the complexities of HIV-related stigma within the context of the elderly. The research meticulously highlights how older individuals experience a dual burden—aging while facing sociocultural stigma related to HIV—an issue that is often overlooked. Additionally, the use of Straussian Grounded Theory offers a significant advantage in uncovering rich and in-depth themes from qualitative data. The systematic analytical process, involving open, axial, and selective coding, provides valuable insights into the realities of elderly individuals in Uganda.

This study also includes gender- and language-based focus group discussions (FGDs), allowing for an exploration of the sociocultural and gendered perspectives on stigma and HIV disclosure. Moreover, the researchers demonstrate a strong commitment to ethics, including obtaining participant consent, ensuring confidentiality, and adhering to the Helsinki Declaration guidelines. These aspects contribute significantly to enriching the discourse on HIV in vulnerable populations.

Nevertheless, this study had several constraints that should be considered for future research: 1) The study was conducted in a single location (Infectious Diseases Institute, Uganda) with a specific sample (individuals aged 60 and above), which limits the generalizability of the findings to other elderly HIV populations, especially in regions with different cultural and economic contexts. 2) The sample size of 38 participants and the uneven gender distribution (71% male) may impact the representation of perspectives, particularly from women. 3) There is a lack of comprehensive discussion on the intersectionality of HIV-related stigma with other health challenges, such as non-communicable diseases.2,3 This leaves a gap in understanding the complexities of healthcare needs. 4) The article does not sufficiently address the long-term psychosocial impacts of stigma, which are crucial for developing effective intervention strategies, as evidenced by challenges faced by HIV/AIDS orphans.4 Additionally, incorporating external factors such as policy frameworks and human rights conditions could further enrich the analysis. 5) While the use of NVivo software is mentioned, the article does not provide specific details on how the software supported the analytical process. Addressing this could enhance transparency in data processing.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this communication.