ABSTRACT

Background: Despite significant advancements in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), HIV-related stigma remains a critical barrier to effective treatment and prevention efforts. Non-disclosure of HIV status is a major consequence of this stigma, hindering social support, treatment adherence, and partner notification. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV/AIDS-related stigma among adult patients receiving ART at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, and to assess the effect of this stigma on the disclosure of HIV status.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adult patients receiving ART at UATH. A total of 290 respondents were recruited using a systematic sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of stigma. Chi-squared test and regression analyses were employed to examine the association between stigma and the likelihood of status disclosure.
Results: The mean age of respondents was 38.8 ± 11.3 years, with a majority being female (67.6%). The overall prevalence of stigma was 31.5%, while the prevalence of fear of stigma (perceived stigma) was 33.8%. Stigma was significantly associated with non-disclosure of HIV status. Specifically, the likelihood of non-disclosure was significantly higher among those who reported that disclosure is risky (a proxy for perceived stigma) compared to those who did not (p < 0.05). Furthermore, regression analysis showed that factors such as age, religion, occupation, and number of years since HIV positive were statistically significant predictors of personalized stigma (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: HIV-related stigma is highly prevalent among adult ART patients in Abuja and significantly impedes the disclosure of HIV status. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted, facility-based and community-level anti-stigma interventions to improve disclosure rates, enhance social support, and ultimately strengthen the national HIV response.

KEYWORDS

HIV-related stigma, Status disclosure, Antiretroviral therapy (ART), Nigeria

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Cite this article

Arinzechukwu J., O., Imam, A., Abubakar, M. A., Uloko, E. O., & Nwankwo, B. B. (2026). Prevalence of HIV-Related Stigma and its Impact on Status Disclosure among Adults on Antiretroviral Therapy in Abuja, Nigeria. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH & MEDICAL RESEARCH, 5(6), 548-554. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijhmr.2026.v5i6n05