Determinants of shame in the stigmatization of self-reported women with human immunodeficiency virus in Kenya; A secondary analysis of 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey data

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Purpose:</bold> HIV/AIDS is a highly prevalent infectious diseasemostly in sub-Saharan Africa,and several strategies have been put in place to reduce its spread. This study aimed to assess the determinants of shame in the stigmatization of self-reported women with HIV in Kenya. <bold>Methods:</bold> The data used in this study were obtained from the 2022 KDHS. The statistical analysis included 332 women aged 15-49 years who reported that their test results indicated that they were HIV positive, and the analysis considered the complex survey design; hence, weights were applied. All the statistical analyses were conducted using STATA 17. <bold>Results:</bold> Women whose HIV status was disclosed by someone else (AOR=1.98, 95% CI: 1.08-3.65, P=0.028) had significantly greater odds of feeling ashamed than did their counterparts whose status was not disclosed. Although not statistically significant, beingaged 20-24 years (AOR=3.65, 95% CI: 0.66-20.14, P=0.24) and experiencingverbal abuse from healthcare workers (AOR=3.73, 95% CI: 0.84-16.56, P=0.08) werealso factors associated withincreased odds of experiencingshame. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Factors contributing to shame among HIV-positive women include community gossip, unauthorized disclosure of status, verbal harassment, and negative treatment by health workers; addressing these problems is very important for addressing HIV-related stigma, improving HIV testing rates, and ensuring better access to treatment, especially among women living in rural areas.