THE INFLUENCE OF STIGMATISATION ON PSYCHOSOCIAL WELLBEING OF HIV/AIDS CLIENTS ATTENDING

Abstract

The study investigated influence of stigmatization on psychosocial wellbeing of HIV/AIDS clients attending Living Faith Support Group, Oyo town, Nigeria. The study examined whether stigmatization has influence on the psychological and sociological wellbeing of HIV/AIDS clients. It evaluated whether stigmatization has influence on the family relationship of HIV/ AIDS clients in Oyo town. A descriptive research design of survey type was used. Population for the study consists of all registered HIV/AIDS patients attending state Hospital, Oyo town, Oyo State. Close-ended questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three Jurors in related fields. A reliability co-efficient of 0.73r was obtained through split-half method using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The three null hypotheses were tested using the inferential statistics of Chi-square at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The findings of this study showed that HIV/AIDS clients suffered low morale, had the tendency to commit suicide, had disturbed mood disorders, experienced broken marital relationships, sexual denial, rejection, isolation and low self-esteem. The study concluded that stigmatization adversely affects psychological and sociological wellbeing and impairs family relationship of HIV/AIDS clients. The authors recommend the need for the integration of services of clinical psychologists into the antiretroviral clinic services in order to help improve the psychological state of HIV/ AIDS clients. Also, family members should be educated on the importance of family therapy as a means of alleviating burdens of HIV/AIDS clients within the home.