title: Stigmatized attitudes toward people living with HIV in Bangladesh: health care workers' perspectives.
abstract: This study was conducted among 526 health care workers (HCWs) in Bangladesh to identify the levels and correlates of stigmatized attitudes toward people living with HIV (PLHIV). HIV-related stigmatized attitudes were measured by a set of items that reflected avoidance attitude of HCWs in hypothetical situations. A multiple linear regression model identified the following correlates of stigma: higher age, high level of irrational fear about HIV and AIDS, being HCW other than a doctor, working in teaching hospital, and rating religion as very important in their life (R (2) = .502). The findings are important for both public health policy planners and human rights activists as high prevalence of stigmatized attitudes among HCWs influence the decision-making process of PLHIV and stop them from accessing voluntary counseling and testing, care, support, and treatment services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. bellal_23@yahoo.com
authors.lastname: Mohammad Bellal Hossain
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kippax
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001459:Bangladesh; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013240:Stereotyping