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Stigma, discrimination present barriers to health in HIV/AIDS

Issue: August 2011

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The stigma and discrimination that accompany HIV infection have a significant effect on the overall health of those living with HIV/AIDS, according to new findings presented at the 6th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Rome.

Limited data exist on stigma and discrimination of HIV and the effect on the health of people living with HIV/AIDS and their protective behaviors. For this reason, Deanna L. Kerrigan, PhD, MPH, associate professor and Research to Prevention project director at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and colleagues pooled data from a survey including 900 participants living with HIV/AIDS in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Participants’ perceived level of HIV-related stigma and reported experiences with discrimination were measured; participants were also screened for sexually transmitted infections.

Results from the final multivariate model indicated that having a greater economic need (OR=1.82; 95% CI, 1.3-2.5), having ever exchanged sex for money (OR=2.4; 95% CI, 1.4-4.2), having a lower acceptance of HIV diagnosis (OR=4.7; 95% CI, 3.4-6.5) and being non-white (OR=1.6; 95% CI, 1.12-2.28) were factors associated with HIV stigma and discrimination.

Those who reported having an STI since being diagnosed with HIV reported greater stigma and discrimination associated with HIV (OR=1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-2.8), lower acceptance of HIV diagnosis (OR=1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.2), were not on antiretroviral therapy (OR=1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.5) and were younger (OR=1.96; 95% CI, 1.3-2.8).

“Results underscore the importance of structural and psychosocial interventions to tackle the inter-related forms of social stigma and inequality faced by many people living with HIV/AIDS,” the researchers wrote. “Findings suggest intensifying such efforts would improve the health of people living with HIV/AIDS and have a significant impact on HIV transmission.”

For more information:

• Kerrigan D. #MOAC0102. Presented at: The 6th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention; July 17-20, 2011; Rome.

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