Stigmatized Discrimination, Barriers to Care and Depression among people living with HIV (PLHIV): Role of Perceived availability of belonging Social Support

Abstract

Current study aims to assess the impact of perceived stigmatized discrimination (PD), perceived barriers to care (PBC) and Perceived belonging social support (PBS) on depression (DP) among PLHIV residing in rural areas. This research also investigates moderating role of PBS in the PD-DP as well as PBC-DP relationship. Using purposive convenient sampling technique, data for this quantitative study were collected through cross-sectional surveys from a rural sample (N = 278) of PLHIV. Participants of the study provided information on socio-demographic factors, PD, PBC , DP and PBS . Present study found PD, PBC and PBS significantly predicting Depression. PBS was found significantly mitigating the PD-DP link, however, moderating impacts of PBS could not be found in PBC-DP relationship. Current research highlights importance of providing acceptance to the PLHIV and reducing the barriers to care among PLHIV residing in rural areas of Pakistan. Further research is needed to investigate moderating role of spiritual support and engagement coping in the perceived stigmatization and depression relationship.