"Being seen" at the clinic: Zambian and South African health worker reflections on the relationship between health facility spatial organisation and items and HIV stigma in 21 health facilities, the HPTN 071 (PopART) study.

Bond, Virginia; Nomsenge, Sinazo; Mwamba, Monde; Ziba, Daniel; Birch, Alice; Mubekapi-Musadaidzwa, Constance; Vanqa, Nosivuyile; Viljoen, Lario; Pliakas, Triantafyllos; Ayles, Helen; +5 more... Hargreaves, James; Hoddinott, Graeme; Stangl, Anne; Seeley, Janet; HPTN 071 (PopART) study team; (2018) "Being seen" at the clinic: Zambian and South African health worker reflections on the relationship between health facility spatial organisation and items and HIV stigma in 21 health facilities, the HPTN 071 (PopART) study. Health and Place, 55. pp. 87-99. ISSN 1353-8292 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.11.006

Abstract

Health workers in 21 government health facilities in Zambia and South Africa linked spatial organisation of HIV services and material items signifying HIV-status (for example, coloured client cards) to the risk of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) 'being seen' or identified by others. Demarcated HIV services, distinctive client flow and associated-items were considered especially distinguishing. Strategies to circumvent any resulting stigma mostly involved PLHIV avoiding and/or reducing contact with services and health workers reducing visibility of PLHIV through alterations to structures, items and systems. HIV spatial organisation and item adjustments, enacting PLHIV-friendly policies and wider stigma reduction initiatives could combined reduce risks of identification and enhance the privacy of health facility space and diminish stigma.

Additional Information

Item Type	Article
Faculty and Department	Faculty of Public Health and Policy > Dept of Global Health and Development Faculty of Public Health and Policy > Public Health, Environments and Society Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases > Dept of Clinical Research