The Effects Of Perceived Stigma On Psychological Wellness And Interpersonal Relationships Of Adolescents With HIV/AIDS In Ruiru, Kiambu County, Kenya
Abstract
There are an approximated 2.1 million HIV-positive adolescents in the world and 15% of the
HIV-infected females are young women 15 to 24 years old; of these, 80% live in sub-Saharan
Africa, hence, HIV predominance among juvenile females of ages 15 to 19 years is very
elevated. The UNAIDS Gap Report concluded that there is a gap in provision of psychological
services addressing stigma among other reproductive health needs among adolescent girls as
they prepare for adulthood. The study used a cross-sectional research design. Three
questionnaires were adopted to assess the three variables. Study participants were recruited
from adolescents in long-term follow-up in the five HIV Comprehensive Care Centres in Ruiru
Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya. The sample included 75 adolescents in the age of 12-19
years. Regression analysis was used to check the effect of perceived stigma on psychological
wellness and interpersonal relationships. The results revealed that perceived stigma was a
significant predictor of psychological wellness, t = -3.293, p = 0.020. The results further
showed that perceived stigma was indeed a significant predictor of interpersonal relationships,
t = -3.505, p = 0.001. Correlation analysis revealed that psychological wellness and quality of
interpersonal relationships are positively related, r = 0.340. Regression analysis results also
showed that disclosure, family awareness, friends’ awareness, friends’ emotional support, type
of hospital support were significant predictors of psychological wellness and interpersonal
relationships. According to the results however, gender was not a significant predictor of
psychological wellness and interpersonal relationships.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Subject
HIV/AIDS In Ruiru, KiambuRights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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