Effects of Stigma on HIV/AIDs Patients Adherence to ARVs at Mukono General Hospital

Abstract

HIV/AIDS remains a significant public health burden in many low-resource settings, including Uganda. One of the critical impediments to successful management of HIV/AIDS is the stigma associated with the disease, a factor that deeply influences both the willingness and the ability of patients to adhere to antiretroviral therapy. The present study explores the impact of stigma on adherence to ARVs among HIV/AIDS patients attending Mukono General Hospital. It further explores the impact of different forms of stigma on daily experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS and their adherence to treatment. This study employs a cross-sectional design, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative strategies to collect data. Data collection will entail structured interviews of ARV patients, key informant interviews of healthcare providers, and focus group discussions with community members. A total of 100 HIV/AIDS patients will be sampled from Mukono General Hospital using purposive sampling to ensure varied experiences regarding stigma are captured. Expectedly, stigma would emerge as a significant barrier to ARV treatment adherence, since it ensures psychological distress, social isolation, and the constant fear of discrimination, which in turn makes people either skip doses or stop the treatment altogether. It is also expected that supportive healthcare environments, combined with psychosocial interventions, can weaken the negative influence of stigma and thus improve adherence rates. This is an important study to all stakeholders who deal with public health since addressing stigma-associated barriers to ARV adherence would mean an inherent improvement in the health outcomes of HIV/AIDS patients. The results shall provide evidence-based recommendations to health providers, policymakers, and social workers for stigma-reduction strategies and improving patient support systems.