A community participation intervention to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma, Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast Thailand.
This paper explores HIV/AIDS stigma in the socio-cultural context of Nakhon Ratchasima Province in the northeastern region of Thailand. Action research was used to develop a community participation intervention. The intervention was implemented in one village over a period of eight months. We describe the intervention and then test its effect on HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV/AIDS stigma using a non-equivalent pre-test-post-test control group design. Analysis of co-variance confirms that, controlling for initial levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigma, the intervention had a significant effect on HIV/AIDS knowledge score (p<0.01) and HIV/AIDS stigma score (p<0.01). Participatory observations by the researchers on villagers' perceptions and behaviour were consistent with the quantitative results. These results suggest that community interventions which empower the community, combined with a financial contribution to reduce resource constraints, are a useful and effective means of increasing interaction between people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and other community members, increasing tolerance and reducing HIV/AIDS stigma.
Community Health Development Program, Graduate School, Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, Thailand.
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Apinundecha
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Laohasiriwong
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Cameron
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Lim
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003256:Community Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D035061:Control Groups; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011287:Prejudice; D016730:Program Development / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000592:standards; D012423:Rural Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013240:Stereotyping; D013785:Thailand