title: Exploring intentions to discriminate against patients living with HIV/AIDS among future healthcare providers in Malaysia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is strong in Malaysia. Although stigma has been understudied, it may be a barrier to treating the approximately 81 000 Malaysian PLWHA. The current study explores correlates of intentions to discriminate against PLWHA among medical and dental students, the future healthcare providers of Malaysia.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online, cross-sectional survey of 1296 medical and dental students was conducted in 2012 at seven Malaysian universities; 1165 (89.9%) completed the survey and were analysed. Socio-demographic characteristics, stigma-related constructs and intentions to discriminate against PLWHA were measured. Linear mixed models were conducted, controlling for clustering by university.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final multivariate model demonstrated that students who intended to discriminate more against PLWHA were female, less advanced in their training, and studying dentistry. They further endorsed more negative attitudes towards PLWHA, internalised greater HIV-related shame, reported more HIV-related fear and disagreed more strongly that PLWHA deserve good care. The final model accounted for 38% of the variance in discrimination intent, with 10% accounted for by socio-demographic characteristics and 28% accounted for by stigma-related constructs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is critical to reduce stigma among medical and dental students to eliminate intentions to discriminate and achieve equitable care for Malaysian PLWHA. Stigma-reduction interventions should be multipronged, addressing attitudes, internalised shame, fear and perceptions of deservingness of care.
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Earnshaw
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wickersham
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.|Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Adeeba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamarulzaman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.|Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.|Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Altice
keywords: HIV/AIDS; Malaisie; Malasia; Malaysia; VIH/SIDA; cuidados sanitarios profesionales; discriminación; discrimination; estigma; homosexuality; professional healthcare students; stigma; stigmatisation; substance abuse; étudiants en profession de soins de santé