Stigmatising Attitudes Towards Co-workers with HIV in the Workplace of a Metropolitan State, Southwestern Nigeria

• Published in: The open AIDS journal Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 67 - 75
• Main Authors: Utuk, Idongesit Godwin, Osungbade, Kayode Omoniyi, Obembe, Taiwo Akinyode, Adewole, David Ayobami, Oladoyin, Victoria Oluwabunmi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United Arab Emirates Benham Science Publishers 2017; Bentham Open
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Attitudes; Disease transmission; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Sociodemographics; Nigeria; HIV/AIDs; Workplace; Attitude; Stigma; Knowledge; Transmission
• ISSN: 1874-6136; 1874-6136
• DOI: 10.2174/1874613601711010067

Despite demonstrating global concerns about infection in the workplace, very little research has explored how co-workers react to those living with HIV in the workplace in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to assess the level of stigmatising attitude towards co-workers living with HIV in the workplace. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving 403 respondents. They were recruited from selected companies through a multistage sampling technique. Survey was carried out using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences to generate frequencies, cross tabulations of variables at 5% level of significance. Logistic regression model was used to determine the predictors at 95% confidence intervals. Mean age of respondents was 32.9 ± 9.4 years with 86.1% being females. Overall, slightly below two-third (63.0%) had good knowledge on transmission of HIV/AIDS while 218 (54.1%) respondents had a high stigmatising attitude towards co-workers with HIV in the workplace. More female respondents (69.6%) demonstrated high stigmatising attitudes towards co-workers with HIV in the workplace (p = 0.012). Female workers were twice more likely to have high stigmatising attitudes towards co-worker with HIV [OR 2.1 (95% CI: 1.13 - 3.83)]. Stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDs is still very persistent in different settings. Good knowledge amongst our participants about HIV/AIDs did not translate to low stigmatising attitudes among workers. Concerted efforts and trainings on the transmission of HIV/AIDs are essential to reduce stigma that is still very prevalent in workplace settings.