Abstract:
The research on Stigma, Health Behavior, and Accessibility to health care service of HIV patients was conducted in Nan Province. The objective of this research is to find out; (1) perceptions on social stigma of the HIV patients; (2) health behavior of HIV patients; (3) accessibility to health care service of HIV patients (4) demographic characteristics and chronology of illness associating with stigma, health behavior, and accessibility to health care service; (5) the relationship between stigma and health behavior and accessibility to health care service. Quantitative method was utilized for obtaining the finding results with 340 respondents. It was found that the society looked at HIV patients as unclean persons, less social space, offensive and outcasts. At present, HIV patients are performed normal health behaviors like others, and followed doctors suggestions. The HIV patients were able to receive free antiretroviral drugs regularly without payment.
Statistical analysis of the relationship among related factors such as stigma, health behavior, and accessibility to health care service, demographic characteristics, and chronology of Illness revealed that stigma was significantly associated with prejudice and social interaction. The results disclosed that stigma still exists in the community and the family as well. This evidence reflects the fact that patients with HIV have expressed negative self-devaluation causing the refusal to receive treatment from government health care services.