Stigma and discrimination against people living with hiv patients in sudan

The study aimed to analyze socio economic situation of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVS) and their experiences of stigma and discrimination in Sudan. Population of the study was people living with HIV/AIDS who attended hospitals for voluntary counseling and testing. The study utilized non probability sampling procedures including purposive and snow ball techniques to select 60 (30 males and 30 females) of people living with HIV/AIDS from three hospitals in Khartoum State namely: Al-Bashair Hospital in Jebalawilya locality, Bahari Hospital in Bahari locality, and Military Hospital in Omdurman locality. The study adopted a structured face-to-face interview, based on a questionnaire to collect the data. Almost half of the participants were at the productive age group (25-49). About three quarters of the respondents were sexually active. More than 90% are living with HIV and AIDS for the last ten years. 55% were illiterate, and the majority of them were females. 50% were not working. Respondents were barred from attending social activities and family gatherings and the most common reason for their exclusion was their HIV status.
The study concluded that HIV-related stigma in Sudan is exceptional in its scale, its context, and its causes. Females living with HIV should be targeted in future interventions to provide them with better educational facilities to support them to have a productive life. Even for males, since most of the PLHIVS are young. Technical education and micro credit schemes would go a long way in alleviating their sufferings.