Impact of mobile phones on HIV public stigma: a cross-sectional and pseudo-panel analysis from Ghana

OBJECTIVE: HIV-related stigma still remains a major barrier to testing and a significant burden for people living with HIV (PLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper investigates how mobile phone ownership can influence HIV-related stigma. DESIGN: This is an observational study using both cross-sectional and pseudo-panel data. Analysis is conducted at both community and individual levels. SETTING: The analysis is run for the country of Ghana using data from 2008 and 2014. PARTICIPANTS: Individual-level and household-level data were obtained from Ghana’s Demographic and Health Survey. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The analysis measures the impact of mobile phone ownership on prejudice against people with HIV. Secondary outcomes are knowledge of HIV, which is included as a mediating element. RESULTS: Community-level analysis finds that a 10% increase in the share of mobile phone owners reduces the prevalence of discriminatory attitudes towards PLWH/AIDS by up to 3%. Results are consistent at the individual level. Additionally, mobile phone-enabled HIV knowledge is found to mediate about 26% of the effect of mobile phones on public stigma. CONCLUSIONS: These findings shed light on the role played by access to mobile technology on HIV-related stigma and discrimination and can support the development of future awareness raising and health communication campaigns in Ghana and other West African countries.