© 2016. Jim Katieno, Prof Paul Odundo & Dr Benson Ojwang. This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting
all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Global Journal of HUMAN-SOCIAL SCIENCE: C
Sociology & Culture
Volume 16 Issue 5 Version 1.0 Year 2016
Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal
Publisher: Global Journals Inc. (USA)
Online ISSN: 2249-460x & Print ISSN: 0975-587X
Stigma and uptake of Antiretroviral Therapy Among Women
in Rachuonyo North Sub-County, Kenya
By Jim Katieno, Prof Paul Odundo & Dr Benson Ojwang
University of Nairobi
Abstract- We investigated the effects of stigma on uptake of Antiretroviral Therapy among women
attending Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission clinics in Kenya. This was a cross sectional
descriptive study where all the 280 women who attended 6 health facilities in Rachuonyo North
Sub County during the study period were sampled. Data were collected using questionnaires
and Key-informant guide for PMTCT Health Officers in charge of the clinics. Data analyzed using
descriptive statistics and using content analysis. The study established that enacted stigma
influenced ART uptake by causing160 (65%) to stop taking anti-retroviral drugs, anticipated
stigma influenced ART uptake by causing 177(63%) women to stop taking antiretroviral,
consequently perceived community stigma influenced ART uptake by causing 168(60%)
respondents to stop taking antiretroviral drugs and self-stigma led to stoppage of antiretroviral
drugs among 184(66%) women. The study highlighted the need to address stigma to improve
ART uptakein PMTCT settings.
Keyterms: antiretroviral therapy, stigma, women, uptake.
GJHSS-C Classification : FOR Code: 160899
StigmaanduptakeofAntiretroviralTherapyAmongWomeninRachuonyoNorthSubCountyKenya
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