Faculty of Medicine

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    HIV/AIDS KNOWLEDGE AND STIGMATISING ATTITUDE TOWARDS PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AMONG STUDENTS OF MEDICAL SCIENCES IN THE REUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA
    (Uniunea Medicala Balcanica - Balkan Medical Union, 2023-12-18)
    KARADZINOVA, Mina
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    RADEVSKA, Ana Marija
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    KARADJINOV, Leonid-Rene-Tomas
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    GJORGOVA, Gloria
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    BRAVA, Edmond
    Introduction. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been significant global health issues for almost 40 years. However, stigma and discrimination against individuals with HIV/AIDS hinder testing, disclosure, and adherence to prevention and treatment strategies. Future healthcare workers’ knowledge and attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are important for better care and prevention, necessitating appropriate education and training. The objective of the study was to examine the general HIV/AIDS knowledge among students of health sciences in the Republic of North Macedonia and to assess medical students’ overall stigmatising attitude towards PLWHA. Materials and methods. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted during November-December 2022, surveying 743 medical sciences students in the Republic of North Macedonia with a 4-item questionnaire. The questionnaire collected demographic data, assessed knowledge, and explored stigmatizing attitudes toward PLWHA. Data underwent accuracy checks using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and reliability analysis used Cronbach’s α coefficient. Results. Among participants (77.7% female, median age 22 years), understanding of HIV/AIDS features related to contagiosity, prevention, and therapy was evident. No significant differences were observed between genders, age, ethnicity, and religion. However, approximately half were unaware of preventing vertical HIV transmission, and over half were unaware of timely postexposure prophylaxis importance. Over half of the participants rejected statements indicating HIV stigma and discrimination. Conclusion. Students showed a good knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission, diagnosis, and prevention but lacked understanding of treatment. Continuous education and training are essential. Encouragingly, no evidence of stigmatizing attitudes toward PLWHA was found among medical sciences students.
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    Stigma and Secrecy Coping in Individuals in Treatment for Substance Dependence in Macedonia and Slovenia
    (EUROPAD, 2018-05)
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    Kastelic, A.
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    Shegrec, N.
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    Vangelski, S. Kattusevska
    INTRODUCTION: At least three conceptually distinct forms of stigma can be identified (Luoma et al.,2007). Enacted stigma refers to directly experienced discrimination based on membership in a stigmatized group, for example difficulty in obtaining employment, poor support for treatment, or interpersonal rejection. Perceived stigma refers to beliefs that members of a stigmatized group have about the prevalence of stigmatizing attitudes and actions in society (cf.Link, 1987). Self-stigma refers to negative thoughts and feelings that emerge from identification with a stigmatized group and their resulting behavioral impact. (Luoma et al., 2007). Little evidence exists whether it is generally helpful or hurtful to conceal substance abuse as a method of regulating stigma, but secrecy is a common method of coping with stigma in substance using populations. The presence of stigma in substance using population negatively affects early detection and intervention, treatment, and recovery and fight against it can contribute to a better outcome of treatment and recovery. The aim of this study is to examine to what extent the enacted stigma, perceived stigma and secrecy as a method of coping with stigma in substance using populations are present and whether there is a differences related to patient and treatment characteristics. METHODS: A crosssection, a randomized study was conducted in the centers for treatment of drug dependence in Skopje and Ljubljana. A total number of 100 patients of both sexes and different age groups (50 clients from each center), being treated for drug dependence were included in this study. A written informative consent was presented to all participants before the start of the research. They filled in a non-standardized questionnaire with demographic data, data on drug use and treatment as well as 5 "yes" - "no" questions about the experienced stigma and other instruments for stigma and secrecy cooping: Stigma-Related Rejection Scale; Perceived Stigma Scale; Secrecy Coping Scale. RESULTS: Drug using population experiencing stigma in high extent. Stigma is more presence in female that in male patients and more in patients on methadone than on buprenorphine. Secrecy is a common method of coping with stigma in substance using populations but that is not a case in front of health staff for vast majority. Secrecy coping is present equally regardless of sex and the type of treatment program. CONCLUSION: Regarding high presence of stigma in substance using populations it is of crucial importance to raise awareness of the presence of stigma towards this population and fight against it in order to ease the recovery process.