Experiences of social stigma and implications for healthcare among a diverse population of HIV positive adults

Stigma profoundly affects the lives of people with HIV/AIDS. Fear of being identified as having HIV or AIDS may discourage a person from getting tested, from accessing medical services and medications, and from disclosing their HIV status to family and friends. In the present study, we use focus gro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of urban health 2007-11, Vol.84 (6), p.814-828, Article 814
Main Authors: Sayles, Jennifer N, Ryan, Gery W, Silver, Junell S, Sarkisian, Catherine A, Cunningham, William E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
Adaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adult
AIDS
Disclosure
Female
Focus Groups
Gender
Health care
Health services
Health Services Accessibility
Healthcare Disparities
HIV
HIV Seropositivity - psychology
HIV Seropositivity - therapy
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Los Angeles
Male
Middle Aged
Negotiating
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology
Poverty
Prejudice
Public health
Stereotypes
Stereotyping
Urban Health Services - standards
Urban Health Services - statistics & numerical data
Vulnerable Populations - psychology
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Summary:Stigma profoundly affects the lives of people with HIV/AIDS. Fear of being identified as having HIV or AIDS may discourage a person from getting tested, from accessing medical services and medications, and from disclosing their HIV status to family and friends. In the present study, we use focus groups to identify the most salient domains of stigma and the coping strategies that may be common to a group of diverse, low-income women and men living with HIV in Los Angeles, CA (n = 48). We also explore the impact of stigma on health and healthcare among HIV positive persons in our sample. Results indicate that the most salient domains of stigma include: blame and stereotypes of HIV, fear of contagion, disclosure of a stigmatized role, and renegotiating social contracts. We use the analysis to develop a framework where stigma is viewed as a social process composed of the struggle for both internal change (self-acceptance) and reintegration into the community. We discuss implications of HIV-related stigma for the mental and physical health of HIV-positive women and men and suggestions for possible interventions to address stigma in the healthcare setting.
ISSN:1099-3460
1468-2869
DOI:10.1007/s11524-007-9220-4