Table 3.
HIV/AIDS related stigmatizing attitudes as expressed by respondents (N = 268)
| Statement | Agreed | Disagreed | No opinion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | ||
| Stigmatizing attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS | Avoidance/rejection of PLHA: | |||
| Would try to avoid contact with a related PLHA | 47 (17.5) | 170 (63.4) | 51 (19.1) | |
| Would be willing to take care of a related PLHA | 184 (68.7) | 30 (11.2) | 54 (20.1) | |
| Would feel comfortable to be seen as relative of a PLHA | 126 (47) | 70 (26.1) | 72 (26.9) | |
| Would feel comfortable to share a toilet seat | 124 (46.3) | 71 (26.5) | 73 (27.2) | |
| Would feel comfortable eating from the same plate | 106 (39.6) | 97 (36.2) | 65 (24.3) | |
| Will not allow social visits | 53 (19.8) | 153 (57.1) | 62 (23.1) | |
| Violation of PLHAs’ rights: | ||||
| They should not work | 53 (19.8) | 159 (59.3) | 56 (20.9) | |
| They should not go to school | 53 (19.8) | 152 (56.7) | 63 (23.5) | |
| They should not get married | 117 (43.7) | 82 (30.6) | 69 (25.7) | |
| They should not have children | 147 (54.9) | 65 (24.2) | 56 (20.9) | |
| They must refrain from sexual intercourse | 166 (61.9) | 55 (20.5) | 47 (17.6) | |
| Their names should be made public | 80 (29.9) | 107 (39.9) | 81 (30.2) | |
| Moral judgments/attribution of blame to PLHA: | ||||
| It is their own fault that they have the disease | 67 (25.0) | 131 (48.9) | 70 (26.2) | |
| They were punished by God because of their sins | 53 (19.8) | 132 (49.3) | 83 (31.0) | |
| They were promiscuous | 43 (16.0) | 127 (47.4) | 98 (36.5) | |
| They made a conscious choice to become infected | 39 (14.6) | 147 (54.9) | 82 (30.6) | |
| They are innocent victims, it is fate that decides | 91 (34.0) | 75 (28.0) | 102 (38.0) | |
| Fear of disclosure of HIV status | Would feel ashamed and stop visiting friends if they had HIV/AIDS | 93 (34.7) | 101 (37.7) | 74 (27.6) |
| Would be afraid that others may keep physical distance if they discovered HIV status | 129 (48.1) | 66 (24.6) | 73 (27.3) | |
| Would be worried about others finding out they were on treatment | 88 (32.8) | 115 (42.9) | 65 (24.3) | |
| Would keep secret about a relative living with HIV/AIDS | 121 (45.1) | 81 (30.2) | 66 (24.6) | |
| Feel ashamed about a relative with a HIV/AIDS diagnosis | 47 (17.5) | 154 (57.5) | 67 (25.0) |