Factors affecting stigma communication towards people living with HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to identify factors influencing the stigma communication concerning HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)/AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patients between health and medical college students. Methods: In this descriptive study, the participants were 158 college students from a certain university. Data were collected from September 18 to September 30, 2018. Self-reported questionnaires were used to measure AIDS-related knowledge, homosexual awareness, fear of HIV/AIDS patients and stigma communication. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, an independent t-test, one way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation and a stepwise multiple regression analysis using the SPSS 23.0 program. Results: The factors influencing the stigma communication between health and medical college students were a fear of HIV/AIDS patients (β=.47, p