Community Engagement and Social Mobilization as Strategies in Hiv/Aids Stigma Reduction Among Adults Using Ghain Supported Sites in Anambra State

The main purpose of the study was to determine community engagement and social mobilization as strategies in HIV/AIDS stigma reduction among adults using GHAIN supported comprehensive sites in Anambra state as at 2009. The research adopted descriptive survey research design. A total of 330 adults was respondents used to source data. The instrument used for data collection for this study was self-developed structured questionnaire. Validity and reliability of the instrument were ensured. Descriptive statistics of percentage (%) and inferential statistics or chi square (%?) were used to answer research questions and test hypotheses respectively. The result of the findings revealed that the community engagement can help in reducing stigma among HIV/AIDS adult patients using community leaders, religious leaders, various kings of organizations, using healthy infected individuals to organize interactive sections talking about the infection, and by involving health professionals to create awareness about the infection. Again, using social mobilization as strategies to reduce HIV stigma, it was found that formation of support groups among people living with the virus will go a long way in reducing the stigma: Other ways includes, using radio jingles to inform people about the infection, enacting laws against stigmatizing people living with the virus, not requesting for HIV status of individuals before marriage, not using separate equipment for HIV infected individuals during sugary or delivery. The results equally showed that stigmatization could lead to some health implications like stress, loneliness, aggressiveness, depression, frustration, withdrawer and bitterness. There are some community practices that encourages stigma, things like ear piecing, female circumcision. Finally the results proved that using strategies like educating the people about the infection, not discriminating them in employment, changing the attitude of health workers towards them, allowing them all the benefits and privileges accorded others and making the disease seem like other disease will help PLWHA cope with the infection. Recommendations were also made pertinent among which are health educators to carry out enlightenment campaign in communities on the need to engage them in ways to reduce stigma like using religious leaders and community leaders to educate other about the infection. Both the federal, state and local governments should endeavor to use some of the strategies like enacting laws against stigma, using radio jingles to tell people about the infection and using NGO to teach about it so as to reduce stigma. Religious leaders should stop requesting for HIV status of individuals during marriage. HIV mode of transmission should be incorporated into school curriculum for people to learn it and stop being afraid of being infected by ordinary body contact. Government should encourage the formation of support groups in all comprehensive hospitals and communities where PLWHA meet to discourse issues about themselves to reduce self stigma. Health care workers should be re-oriented on the dangers of stigmatizing their patients.