Abstract
IntroductionHIV stigma is a contributing factor to poor patient outcomes. Although HIV stigma has been documented, its impact on patient well-being in the southern US is not well understood.MethodsThirty-two adults participated in cognitive interviews after completing the Berger HIV or the Van Rie stigma scale. Participant responses were probed to ensure the scales accurately measured stigma and to assess the impact stigma had on behavior.ResultsThree main themes emerged regarding HIV stigma: (1) negative attitudes, fear of contagion, and misperceptions about transmission; (2) acts of discrimination by families, friends, health care providers, and within the workplace; and (3) participants’ use of self-isolation as a coping mechanism. Overwhelming reluctance to disclose a person’s HIV status made identifying enacted stigma with a quantitative scale difficult.DiscussionFear of discrimination resulted in participants isolating themselves from friends or experiences to avoid disclosure. Participant unwillingness to disclose their HIV status to friends and family could lead to an underestimation of enacted HIV stigma in quantitative scales.
Highlights
HIV stigma is a contributing factor to poor patient outcomes
In this paper we report on 32 HIV-positive participants in middle Tennessee who completed in-depth, qualitative interviews regarding their experience with, and perceptions of, HIV stigma
Patient time constraints appeared to be the major reason for refusal to participate
Summary
HIV stigma is a contributing factor to poor patient outcomes. HIV stigma has been documented, its impact on patient well-being in the southern US is not well understood. Overwhelming reluctance to disclose a person’s HIV status made identifying enacted stigma with a quantitative scale difficult. Participant unwillingness to disclose their HIV status to friends and family could lead to an underestimation of enacted HIV stigma in quantitative scales. Perceived and experienced stigma may negatively affect HIV testing, retention in care and adherence through fear that being seen at an HIV clinic, missing work to attend appointments, or being observed taking medication will inadvertently disclose one’s HIV status [5,6,7,8,9]. Experienced, perceived and internalized stigma may lead to depression, low self-esteem, isolation and feelings of hopelessness or loss of control, which may in turn result in lost motivation to remain in care and to be adherent to treatment [10,11]. Studies of HIV stigma have focused on three levels: (1) the micro level, including individual psychological context (the stigmatizer and the stigmatized) and the disease characteristics (concealability, contagion risk, culpability); (2) the macro level, including media portrayal of HIV or groups of people associated with the disease; and (3) the meso level, including social networks and current healthcare practices [12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
