Roles of Discrimination and Self-Esteem on Deliberate Self-Harm among People Living With HIV in Anambra State

Abstract

The study explored the roles of discrimination and self-esteem on deliberate self-harm among people living with HIV in Anambra State. In the study, 128 People living with HIV served as participants. They were drawn from Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha (Inpatients and Outpatients), and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the hospitals and systematic sampling technique was used to select the participants. The participants’ age ranged 24 to 69 years with mean age of 42.68 and standard deviation of 11.55. The gender data revealed that 71(55.5%) were males and 71(55.5%) were females. Three instruments were used: Perceived Discrimination Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Self-Harm Inventory. The study adopted correlational design and Multiple regression statistics. The study revealed that perceived discrimination indicated significant role on deliberate self-harm among people living with HIV at (F1, 85) = 29.55, p<.05. Self-esteem showed significant role on deliberate self-harm among people living with HIV at (F1, 85) = 11.49, p<.05. Perceived discrimination and self-esteem had significant interaction effect on deliberate self-harm among people living with HIV at (F1, 85) = 6.43, p<.05. Therefore, the study recommends that psychologists should be engage for psychosocial support to people living with HIV. Their services will help reduce deliberate self-harm triggered by discrimination and low self-esteem.