US Government Health Agencies' Efforts to Address HIV-Related Intersectional Stigma

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) 2022-06, Vol.112 (S4), p.S401-S404
• Main Authors: Gaist, Paul A, Greenwood, Gregory L, Wilson, Amber, Dempsey, Antigone, Harrison, Timothy P, Haverkate, Richard T, Koenig, Linda J, McCree, Donna Hubbard, Palmieri, John, Phillips, Harold J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral therapy; Availability; Classism; Discrimination; Disease control; Disease prevention; Drug abuse; Federal agencies; Gender identity; Global Health; Government; Government Agencies; Health care industry; Health Policy; Health services; HIV; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV/AIDS; Homophobia; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human Rights; Humans; Infections; Intersectionality; Intervention; Medical treatment; Mental disorders; Mental health care; Minority & ethnic groups; Needle exchange programs; Opinions, Ideas, & Practice; Oppression; Prevention; Prophylaxis; Public health; Racism; Sexism; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social Stigma; STD; Stigma; Support services; Surveillance; Transgender persons; Treatment methods
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2022.306732

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its agencies are committed to identifying and addressing the challenges that impede people from utilizing available HIV prevention and treatment options. Among these challenges are intersectional stigma and discrimination, which HHS is working to address through its programs and initiatives, including within the Endingthe HIV Epidemic in the US (EHE) initiative, which aims to reduce new HIV infections in the United States by at least 90% by 2030.1 Through EHE and other concerted programs and efforts, the goal of HHS is to develop and equitably deliver effective health-related support services to people who need them. Despite the availability of critical evidence-based options (e.g., advances in antiretroviral therapy, models of effective HIV care and prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and syringe services programs), access to, uptake of, and persistent use of these options remain uneven within and across communities, regions, and demographic groups.Interlocking systems of oppression (e.g., racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia) are drivers of HIV-related intersectional stigma (HIVIS). Acknowledging this, HHS embraces an HIVIS perspective to address the full, inclusive spectrum of health and life experiences among people affected by HIV. This perspective acknowledges that systems of power have an adverse impact on the health of people experiencing multiple forms of oppression.