Cent Eur J Public Health 2023, 31(3):210-216 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7782

Stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV in the Czech Republic: a pilot study

Anna Kubátová1, Alena Fialová1,2, Jiří Stupka1, Marek Malý1, Lidmila Hamplová3, Simona Sedláčková4
1 National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
3 Medical College, Prague, Czech Republic
4 Faculty of Military Health, University of Defence, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Objectives: HIV positivity diagnosis is often accompanied by stigmatization and discrimination, even in developed societies. The aim of the study was to obtain current information on the quality of life of people living with HIV in the Czech Republic, to assess the level and perception of stigmatization and discrimination, and to identify existing problems of people living with HIV concerning health services, family and the public.

Methods: Data for the pilot study were collected by convenience sampling between 2021 and 2022. Respondents were recruited from residents of Czech nationality and foreigners living with HIV in the Czech Republic who participated in an ECDC online questionnaire study or attended a convalescent stay for people living with HIV. Likert scales were used to capture key opinions, attitudes and beliefs of respondents. Data were processed using descriptive analysis.

Results: The study involved 42 people living with HIV. A total of 77% of the respondents reported that they had learned to live with their HIV-positive status, but 21% admitted to having low self-esteem due to their status. A total of 81% of the respondents had disclosed their HIV-positive status to someone outside of the healthcare setting, however, 40% of the respondents found it difficult to do so. Assault or threats from a sexual partner were reported by 17% of the respondents. A total of 27% of the respondents admitted having been denied or suspended health care, 44% reported inappropriate comments from healthcare workers, and 32% of the respondents avoided visiting the healthcare facility. Alarmingly, 41% of the respondents had been refused dental care at some point in the past because of their HIV-positive status.

Conclusions: Although the study presents only limited findings due to the small number of respondents, it is clear that stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV exists in the Czech society. It brings the risk of loss of motivation and involvement of people living with HIV in working together with healthcare providers on their treatment. There is a clear need for a larger study to identify the causes of stigmatization and to find ways to prevent it.

Keywords: stigmatization, discrimination, people living with HIV, quality of life, health care, ECDC questionnaire

Received: March 10, 2023; Revised: September 11, 2023; Accepted: September 11, 2023; Published: September 30, 2023  Show citation

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Kubátová A, Fialová A, Stupka J, Malý M, Hamplová L, Sedláčková S. Stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV in the Czech Republic: a pilot study. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2023;31(3):210-216. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a7782. PubMed PMID: 37934485.
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