Megan Rae Strachan-Whaley, Sarah Scruton, C J Blennerhassett, Robin Urquhart
Impact of no publicly accessible prenatal education programming on patients and their care providers: a descriptive qualitative study in Nova Scotia, Canada
BMJ open
stigma known barrier hiv testing care access antiretroviral therapy reduces overt illness mortality scholars theorized hivrelated stigma would decrease treatment availability increased however association art accessibility stigma straightforward originally predicted conducted situational analysisa rapid communitybased qualitative assessment inform combination hiv prevention program high prevalence communities context communitybased research conducted semistructured interviews focus groups 684 individuals four lowresource subdistricts north west province south africa addition using data inform programming examined impact stigma uptake services findings suggested anticipated stigma remains barrier care although participants reported less enacted stigma hostility toward people living hiv also felt hiv remains synonymous promiscuity infidelity participants described community members taking steps avoid identified hivpositive including avoiding healthcare facilities entirely using traditional healers paying private doctors behaviors led delays testing accessing care problems adhering medications especially men youth health condition could plausibly account utilization medical services conclude providing access art alone end hivrelated stigma instead individuals remain hesitant seek care long fear lead prejudice discrimination critical combat trend increasing cultural acceptance seropositive integrating hiv care general primary care normalizing men youths accessing health care