The Impact Of Perceived Stigma Of HIV/AIDS Patients On Mental Health And Unsafe Sexual Behavior

Objective:To describe the stigma perceived by patients with HIV/AIDS, mental health and unsafe sexual behavior, to describe impact that stigma perceived by people with HIV/AIDS has on mental health and unsafe sexual behavior.Methods:With convenience sampling, patients with HIV/AIDS were interviewed from July to November in2012when they came to CDC to do CD4test. The questionnaire included: general questionnaire, sexual behavior questionnaire, PHQ-9, GAD-7and Psychometric Assessment of the HIV Stigma Scale. The survey results were statistically analyzed using SPSS13.0statistical software. Statistical description: demographics characteristics, unsafe sexual behavior, depression, anxiety, perceived stigma. Multiple linear regression model was employed to analysis if the stigma perceived by patients with HIV/AIDS has impact on mental health and unsafe sexual behavior.Results:1. A total of300questionnaires were given off,262(87.3%) effective recovery2. Stigma perceived by patients with HIV/AIDS:the total score of perceived stigma among262patients with HIV/AIDS were111.82±18.39. The score of concerning with public attitudes about people with HIV were56.58±10.21; the score of personalized stigma were49.35±9.21; the score of negative self-image were35.49±6.30; the score disclosure concerns were29.39±4.58.3. Mental health of patients with HIV/AIDS:the score of depression were8.42±6.69; the score of anxiety were6.91±5.97.4. Unsafe sexual behavior of patients with HIV/AIDS:121(46.2%) did not have fixed sexual partners, and125(47.7%) did not inform spouse or sexual partners about their HIV infection status in the last three months. Condom use in the past three months:8(3.0%) never used condom,35(13.4%) used condom sometimes,56(21.4%) used condom people most of the time, and163(62.2%) had been using condoms consistently.5. The correlation among perceived stigma, mental health and unsafe sexual behavior: the total score of perceived stigma and the score of its all dimensions were positively correlated with anxiety (r=0.359) and depression (r=0.292), but no significant correlated with unsafe sexual behavior. In the regression model, stigma has impact on anxiety (b=1.062).Concusion:The stigma perceived by patients with HIV/AIDS is above the average level. Perceived stigma has effect on mental health, especially anxiety, but no effect on unsafe sexual behavior.