Depression and Stigma Among HIV-Positive Injection Drug Users in China: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Very little is known about the interrelationships among social stigma, depression, and HIV-status among injection drug users (IDUs) in China. To better understand these relationships, the authors assessed depression, perceived social stigma, and HIV status in a sample of 45 IDUs in a high-risk region of China. Data were analyzed using analyses of covariance and pair-wise correlations. Perceived social stigma was elevated among IDUs and significantly related to depression; IDUs report comparable levels of depression regardless of HIV serostatus. Implications for further research and study limitations are discussed.