ABSTRACT
@#Abstract: Objective To explore the dynamic characteristics of stigmatization in HIV/AIDS patients and provide scientific evidence for psychological care. Methods HIV/AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment in Nanning Fourth People's Hospital were randomly selected for baseline and 1 year follow-up questionnaire survey including internalized HIV stigma, anticipated HIV stigma, exposure to HIV stigma. The differences between the two groups at different time points were dynamically compared to analyze the changing characteristics of stigma in HIV/AIDS patients. Results After one year of ART treatment, among the eight items of internalizing stigma, five items including the proportion of feeling ashamed of being infected with HIV/AIDS, feeling unclean because of being infected with HIV/AIDS, feeling inferior to others because of having HIV/AIDS, feeling guilty because of having HIV/AIDS, and having a poorer self-perception due to how others view HIV/AIDS decreased significantly from 34.0% to 43.5% at the baseline to 19.5% to 29.5%, showing significant improvement with statistical significance (χ2=18.586, 14.277, 10.473, 12.219, 9.934, P<0.05); among the nine items of anticipated stigma, four items including the proportion of community/community workers not taking my needs seriously, discriminating against me, refusing to provide services for me, and healthcare workers avoiding contact with me decreased significantly from 16.0% to 27.5% at the baseline to 7.0% to 15.5%, respectively, showing significant improvement with statistical significance (χ2=13.690, 15.787, 12.034, 12.593, P<0.05); among the 16 items of exposure to HIV stigma, six items including the proportion of experiencing physical attacks, psychological pressure from spouses/partners, being refused sexual relationships, losing jobs or other economic sources, being rejected or losing a job opportunity due to HIV/AIDS, changing job nature due to HIV/AIDS, or being refused medical services decreased significantly from 2.5% to 15.0% at the baseline to 1.0% to 8.0%, respectively, showing significant improvement with statistical significance (χ2=8.619, 15.558, 6.061, 9.049, 5.432, 8.156, P<0.05). Physical assaults on people with HIV/AIDS increased by 5.5 percent(χ2=5.368, P<0.05). Conclusions Through 1-year dynamic monitoring, 48.48% of the three dimensions of stigma of HIV/AIDS patients were alleviated. Treatment intervention, self-acceptance and the creation of a good non-discriminatory social environment have an important impact on the stigma of HIV/AIDS patients and deserve the attention of society as a whole.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To understand the behavioral problems of children infected with HIV, and to provide reference for further psychological intervention.@*Methods@#The survey was conducted from January to December 2017. A total of 256 HIV-infected 10-16 years old school-aged children who were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Center for Disease Control and Prevention were invited to participate. Another 256 children without HIV infection who were matched with sex and age were selected as the control group. Achenbach Children’s Behavior Scale was used to conduct psychological questionnaires in the two groups of children.@*Results@#Activity, social competence, and learning ability in the study group scored lower than control group (P<0.05). In children with HIV infection group, score of social competence in boys and girls aged 10-11 years were (14.35±3.96) (15.26±5.00), respectively, and was (14.21±4.64) and (14.57±5.50) in boys and girls aged 12-16 years was significantly lower than age and sex-matched control group (19.38±6.77 and 18.09±5.16 in boys and girls aged 10-11 years, 17.26±6.88 and 17.84±6.76 in boys and girls aged 12-16 years) (P<0.05). The total detection rate of behavioral problems in the study group (13% and 10% in boys and girls aged 10-11 years, 17% and 13% in boys and girls aged 12-16 years) was significantly higher than that in the control group (5% and 3% in boys and girls aged 10-11 years, both 4% in boys and girls aged 12-16 years) (P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Behavioral problems in HIV-infected children are prevalent, which worth more attention to carry out psychological intervention among this vulnerable population.