Perceived stigma and the role of BMI on perceived HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Ethiopia

Fikreab Desta^1,2*Demisu Zenbaba²Biniyam Sahiledengle²Shifera Metaferia³Tesfaye Desalegn⁴Degefa Gomora⁵Chala Kene⁵Girma Beressa²Telila Mesfin³Pammla Petruka⁶Lillian Mwanri⁷

• ¹Madda Walabu University, Bale Robe, Ethiopia
• ²Department of Public Health, School of Health Science, Madda Walabu University, Bale Robe, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
• ³Department of Biomedical Sciences, Goba Referral Hospital, Madda Walabu University, Bale Robe, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
• ⁴Department of Medical Biochemistry, Madda Walabu University, Bale, Ethiopia
• ⁵Department of Midwifery, Madda Walabu University, Bale Robe, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
• ⁶College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
• ⁷Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, Australia

Background: People living with HIV/AIDS are at an increased risk of perceived HIV-related stigma. The effectiveness of social support for perceived HIV-related stigma is hampered by high depression. Although there is evidence that being underweight associated with perceived HIV-related stigma but the mechanism is not well known. This study aimed assess perceived HIV-related and the role of body mass index (BMI) on perceived HIV-related stigma in southeast Ethiopia.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 547 randomly selected HIV/AIDS patients in southeast Ethiopia. Perceived HIV-related stigma was assessed using a 10-item perceived HIV stigma scale of assessment tool. Descriptive statistics were computed and the data were analyzed by logistic regression, correlation and mediation model.The magnitude of perceived HIV-related stigma was found to be 68% [95% CI: (64.1%, 71.9%)] among participants. Patients with low social support [AOR=1.5, 95% CI: (1.05, 2.40)], a body mass index (BMI) of < 18.5 kg/m 2 (kilogram per meter squared) [(AOR = 5, 95% CI: (2.30, 11.0)], and non-adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral therapy (HAART) [(AOR: 5, 95% CI: (1.03, 3.05)] were significantly associated with perceived HIVrelated stigma in. In mediation the results indicated that the total mediation effect (B = -0.62, 95% CI [-0.828, 0.404]), direct effect (B = -0.30, 95% CI [-0.554, -0.046]), depression played a chain mediating role (indirect effect) (B = -0.41, 95% CI [-0.557, -0.261]) were significant.The prevalence of perceived HIV-related stigma was found high. Patients with poor social support and non-adherent to HAART were more likely to suffer from HIV-related perceived stigma. Our findings suggest that there is relationship between body mass index and perceived HIV-related stigma, while depression can indirectly predict perceived HIV-related stigma.