[HIV/AIDS stigma in Africa: analysis of its forms and manifestations in Burkina Faso].

Introduction: Negative impact of stigma on HIV care and prevention is documented. Qualitative approaches were used to describe its importance in Burkina Faso (1% of HIV prevalence) and need to be completed by quantitative estimations of the main manifestations and categories of stigma.

Methodology: During the MATCH study (Multi-country African Study on Testing and Counselling for HIV) conducted in 2007-2008, 219 people tested HIV positive (PLWHA) were interviewed by means of a quantitative questionnaire. One of the topics concerned their experience of the consequences of HIV positive results using 20 items on stigma manifestations, classified into 3 categories: stigma in health care services (7 items), interpersonal stigma (10 items) and internal stigma (3 items).

Results: Internal stigma is the major category experienced by PLWHA in Burkina Faso (46%) compared to 40% for interpersonal stigma and 11% for stigma in health care facilities). PLWHA who disclosed their HIV result, widows or separated persons, those with a lower level of education, PLWHA who joined community-based organizations are more likely to experience interpersonal stigma. Stigma in health care facilities is more frequently reported by PLWHA who joined community-based organizations. Internal stigma affects all PLWHA, with no significant differences in terms of age categories or gender.

Conclusion: Antiretroviral scaling-up programmes must integrate more adapted psychology support aspects. Psychosocial activities, targeting persons and not groups, must be part of PLWHA care in Burkina Faso, especially in community-based organizations.