Perception of Patients With HIV/AIDS From Stigma and Discrimination.
BACKGROUND
Stigma and discrimination among patients with HIV/AIDS cause various problems for the patients and their health systems.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explain the perceived experiences of the patients from stigma and discrimination and their roles on health-seeking services among patients.


METHODS
This was a qualitative research using content analysis approach and semi-structured interviews, conducted on patients living with HIV/ADS, during 2013 - 2014 in Iran. Sampling started purposefully and continued in a snowball.


RESULTS
The experiences of patients with HIV/AIDS from stigma and discrimination led to exploring three main themes and nine subthemes. The main themes were multidimensional stigma, rejection, and insult and discrimination in receiving health services.


CONCLUSIONS
Stigma and discrimination play an important role in patients' lives and hinder them from accessing the treatment. The patients' responses to this event by secrecy strategy can be an important factor in the disease prevalence.
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
Mandana
M
Saki
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
Sima
S
Mohammad Khan Kermanshahi
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
Eesa
E
Mohammadi
Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High Risk Behavior, Tehran University of Medial Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Minoo
M
Mohraz
Discrimination; HIV; Qualitative Research