title: Factors associated with stigma attitude towards people living with HIV among general individuals in Heilongjiang, Northeast China.
abstract: HIV-related stigma always is major obstacles to an effective HIV response worldwide. The effect of HIV-related stigma on HIV prevention and treatment is particularly serious in China. This study was to examine stigma attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) among general individuals in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China and the factors associated with stigma attitude, including socio-demographic factors and HIV/AIDS Knowledge.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Heilongjiang Province, China. A total of 4050 general individuals with age 15-69 years in four villages in rural areas and two communities in urban areas were drawn using stratified cluster sampling. Standardized questionnaire interviews were administered. Univariate and multivariate log-binomial regression were performed to assess factors affecting stigma attitude towards PLWHA.
  
  
  
  The proportions of participants holding stigma attitude towards PLWHA were 49.6% among rural respondents and 37.0% among urban respondents (P < 0.001). Multivariate log binomial regression analysis among both rural participants (RR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.87-0.91, P < 0.001) and urban participants (RR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.87-0.91, P < 0.001) showed that greater knowledge of HIV transmission misconceptions was significantly associated with lower stigma attitude towards people living with HIV. And among urban participants, higher education level (high school vs. primary school or less: RR = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.62-0.87, P < 0.001; middle school vs. primary school or less: RR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.71-0.97, P = 0.018) were also significantly associated with lower stigma attitude towards PLWHA.
  
  
  
  The level of stigma attitude towards PLWHA is higher in rural areas than in urban areas in Heilongjiang. Meanwhile, individuals who better were aware of HIV/AIDS transmission misconceptions may hold lower stigma attitude toward PLWHA whether among rural or urban residents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.|Heilongjiang Medical Science Institute, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Mudanjiang Medical College, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Qiqihaer Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Qiqihaer, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Jingli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Public Health College, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Liying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Qiqihaer Medical University, Qiqihaer, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Chundi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Third Affiliated Clinical Hospital of Qiqihaer Medical University, Qiqihaer, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiujing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Disease Control Office, Health Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Yeli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Heilongjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Donghui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. zhao_yashuang@263.net.
authors.forename: Yashuang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: General individuals; HIV/AIDS knowledge; Public stigma attitude