Volume 62, Issue 340, January - April 2026

Stigma and Discrimination Experienced by HIV/AIDS Patients in Banke District, Nepal

Kamal Dhakal^1♦, Ramesh Prasad Adhikary²

¹Programme Lead, TB, Banke, Nepal
²Assistant Professor, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

^♦Corresponding Author
Kamal Dhakal, Programme Lead, TB, Banke, Nepal

ABSTRACT

Background: Stigma, originating from ancient practices of physical branding, signifies rejection, exclusion, or devaluation, arising from expected social judgment. HIV stigma manifests internally as guilt or shame or externally as discrimination, impacting individuals' well-being and social interactions. Methodology: This crosssectional analytical study was conducted at an ART site in Banke District, Nepal, using quantitative methods. Simple random sampling was applied to determine the sample size. Ethical approval was obtained from PUIRC. Reliability and validity were ensured through strategies like pretesting, double entry, and validation. Data were managed and analyzed using Epi Data and SPSS software, employing descriptive and inferential statistics to identify significant predictors. Results: The overall HIV stigma mean score was 2.48 ± 0.21, with scores ranging from 1.84 to 3.42. Among the four domains, Public Attitude Concern had the highest mean score of 2.60 ± 0.30, while Enacted Stigma had the lowest. Significant differences were observed between perceived stigma and factors like age, marital status, residence, employment, duration of HIV diagnosis, and disclosure status. Additionally, the overall HIV discrimination mean score was 20.88 ± 2.80. Conclusion: The findings highlight that Public Attitude Concern is the most significant domain of stigma, emphasizing the societal judgment faced by individuals living with HIV. Key factors like age, gender, and HIV disclosure status are strongly associated with stigma and discrimination. Addressing these factors is essential for reducing stigma and improving the quality of life for those affected.

Keywords: HIV, Stigma, Discrimination, Banke District

Discovery, 2026, 62, e3d3213

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Published: 07 February 2026