Reducing HIV Stigma in Uganda: Key Findings from an End-line Report
December 2015

In 2014-2015, a stigma-reduction initiative was implemented in Central and South-Western Uganda, designed to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination among people living with and affected by HIV. A baseline survey took place in November 2014, followed by targeted interventions, and an end-line survey in December 2015. Drawing on the methodologies of global organisations such as the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), the International Community of Women Living with HIV & AIDS (ICW), the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and UNAIDS, this project sought measurable change in both internal (self-perceived) and external (community/structural) HIV stigma.

Significant Outcomes

Overall stigma – both internal and external – showed marked reductions. Internal stigma decreased from 53.7% at baseline to 35% at end-line. External stigma also declined: for example, experiences of gossip dropped from 47.7% to 30.6%; verbal insults from 30.5% to 17%; and physical threats from 14% to 6.8%.

Among gender groups, the reduction in stigma was more pronounced among women (from 59% at baseline to 33% at end-line) than among men (41% to 39%). The difference is attributed to higher female participation in training and intervention activities.

Within internal stigma components (of which eight were tracked), self-blame emerged as the most frequent issue (19.7% of respondents). The broader internal stigma profile – shame, guilt, low self-esteem – also shifted positively over the project period.

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When we engage communities and empower those living with HIV themselves, we begin to shift not only attitudes but lives. The reductions we see in this project show that stigma is changeable – and that faith-leaders and PLHIV are key partners in that change.

Dr Maria Nannyonga Musoke

Linking Intervention to Change

A key component of the intervention was the training of over 60 faith leaders as change-agents, sensitising communities and addressing internal stigma through faith-based mobilisation. A parallel track trained more than 500 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in advocacy skills – equipping them to speak out, build confidence, and challenge structural stigma.

What Next?

Building on these results, key recommendations include:

• Sustaining and expanding collaboration with faith-communities;
• Increasing the number of trained faith leaders across the region;
• Widely disseminating the findings to integrate faith-contextual stigma-reduction into ongoing programmes;
• Ensuring that empowerment of PLHIV remains central in future interventions.

In summary, the project demonstrated that focused, context-sensitive interventions especially involving faith leaders and empowering PLHIV can yield significant reductions in HIV-related stigma and discrimination, particularly among women.