HIV/AIDS Stigma and Religiosity Among African American Women

Women of Color Reflect on HIV-Related Stigma through PhotoVoice

“…Furthermore, participation in religious events has been associated with a reduction in HIV symptoms (Chou, Holzemer, Portillo, & Slaughter, 2004). Conversely, other studies have indicated that shame related to HIV stigma was associated with religious beliefs and that HIV was the result of divine retribution (Muturi & An, 2010). For our study participants, particularly the African American respondents, faith was identified as an important method to manage stigma-related depression and HIV-disease-related suicidal ideation.…”

Religious coping, stigma, and psychological functioning among HIV-positive African American women

“…religious involvement) displayed significantly higher religious-specific HIV stigma, associating HIV/AIDS with a curse or punishment from God (Muturi & An, 2010).…”

“…African American and Caucasian women were found to cope with stigma by facing their illness, disclosing at selective times only to trusted people, redefining stigma as ignorance, becoming advocates, and relying on spiritual resources (Buseh & Stevens, 2006;Stanley, 1999). Although African American women rely on spiritual and religious coping, many churches in the Black community have expressed stigmatising attitudes about HIV and have been slow to reach out to those infected (Agate et al, 2005;Muturi & An, 2010). It is unclear how African American women might use religious coping to manage stigma, as this has yet to be explored quantitatively.…”

Spirituality and Religion in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Kwazulu-natal, South Africa: A Longitudinal Study

“…The study found a significant association between internalized stigma and spirituality/religiosity over time. In a study among African American women, Muturi and An (2010) found that those participants with high religiosity displayed significantly higher stigma, associating HIV/AIDS with a curse or punishment from God and an ingrained prejudice against HIV/AIDS from a religious perspective.…”

“…For instance, Cotton et al (2006) found that HIV patients with greater optimism, greater self-esteem, greater life satisfaction, minority race, less alcohol use and worse overall functioning tended to be both more spiritual and religious. Higher spirituality/religion scores were also found to be associated with better ART adherence (Parsons, Cruise, Davenport & Jones, 2006;Kremer, Ironson & Porr, 2009), HIV/AIDS stigma (Muturi & An, 2010) and HIV protective sexual behaviour (Galvan, Collins, Kanouse, Pantoja, & Golinelli, 2007).…”