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The nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders

Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013.

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Other Authors: Visser, M.J. (Maretha Johanna)
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2014
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Visser, M.J. (Maretha Johanna)
author_browse Visser, M.J. (Maretha Johanna)
author_facet Visser, M.J. (Maretha Johanna)
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2014 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
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license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
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publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/41453 The nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders Visser, M.J. (Maretha Johanna) cvh.cornelia@gmail.com Van Huyssteen, Cornelia Carolina HIV/AIDS Stigma Discrimination Knowledge Attitudes Practices KAP survey Faith-based Organisations Faith-based Leaders UCTD Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. More than 30 years after the first case of HIV/AIDS was reported, the disease continues to pose challenges for governments and communities across the world, but particularly in Southern Africa. Response to the disease is hindered by contextual influences, which vary between countries and cultural groups. With HIV/AIDS, one size does not fit all. The complexity of this disease is still not fully understood and information regarding its spread and prevalence is often fluid and unreliable. Communities’ emotional reaction to HIV/AIDS, including stigmatising, plays a role in this scenario. FBOs (including churches) are uniquely positioned to provide HIV/AIDS education and prevention messages through their extensive networks that reach even the most remote villages. However, during the era of HIV/AIDS, FBOs or their members have been the target of criticism. They have been accused of promoting stigmatising and discriminatory attitudes based on fear and prejudice, of pronouncing harsh moral judgements on those infected and of reducing the issues of AIDS to mere moral issues. The primary research question in this research focused on determining the nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders. The study questionnaires were completed by aspiring faith-based leaders who participated in Choose Life training programmes. These aspiring faith-based leaders were used as an indirect measure of stigma in their respective FBOs. The assumption is made that the attitude of faith-based leaders may affect the communities they serve. A KAP survey was used to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices within these organisations. A group of 133 aspiring faith-based leaders who attended a HospiVision training programme, Choose Life, participated in the study. Non-parametric tests were used in the analysis of the data. Test include Spearman Rho correlations, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney. It was found that respondents are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS. Despite their high level of knowledge, there is still fear and worry about sharing eating or drinking utensils with those infected. Unrealistic fear of HIV transmission is one of the building blocks of HIV-related stigma. Respondents were generally unaware of people living with the virus in their congregation. This demonstrates that disclosure of HIV status is relatively low. It may be a fear of stigma that represents a barrier to disclosure. A high percentage of respondents (44%) indicated that they would feel ashamed should the virus infect them or someone in their family (28%). They were, however, more accepting of other people who are infected (only 12% indicated PLWHA should be ashamed). These contradictions make it difficult to understand the level of stigmatising and the reasons behind the responses. In spite of prevention campaigns run by various organisations, stigma and discrimination still exist and this may hamper our response to the illness. The study was relatively small, but its results are similar to those of earlier studies conducted nationally among faith-based leaders. Stigma and discrimination remain factors that have to be considered in all programmes developed to address the current HIV crisis. Even when knowledge about the disease is significant and respondents are well educated, some stigma still prevails. FBOs are amongst the institutions in society that shape the values and attitudes that guide responses to illness and vulnerability and that support appropriate and compassionate responses. This research shows that FBOs have an important role to play in promoting religious beliefs that confront stigma and in encouraging positive dialogue to counter damaging thought patterns in communities. am2014 Psychology unrestricted 2014-08-20T09:12:27Z 2014-08-20T09:12:27Z 2014-04-16 2013 Mini Dissertation Van Huyssteen, CC 2014, The nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders, MA dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/41453> F/14/4/485 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/41453 en © 2014 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle HIV/AIDS
Stigma
Discrimination
Knowledge
Attitudes
Practices
KAP survey
Faith-based Organisations
Faith-based Leaders
UCTD
The nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders
title The nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders
title_full The nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders
title_fullStr The nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders
title_full_unstemmed The nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders
title_short The nature and extent of HIV/AIDS-related stigma reported by aspiring faith-based leaders
title_sort nature and extent of hiv aids related stigma reported by aspiring faith based leaders
topic HIV/AIDS
Stigma
Discrimination
Knowledge
Attitudes
Practices
KAP survey
Faith-based Organisations
Faith-based Leaders
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/41453