“They Kept Away”: Social Isolation of Cisgender Women Living with HIV in Hyderabad, India

Journal Community Psychology

Jokhakar

Vaudrey

et al. 2022

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The goal of this study was to explore the association between HIV stigma and depression and whether gender moderated this relationship. The theoretical framework for the study combined an adapted version of Goffman's conceptualization of stigma with gender role theory. We surveyed 150 individuals living with HIV in Hyderabad, India (51 cisgender women, 49 cisgender men, and 50 third gender people) on their experiences with HIV stigma. While third gender people had statistically higher scores for HIV stigma over their cisgender counterparts, the association between each of three different forms of stigma (internalized stigma, perceived stigma, and experienced stigma) on depression was negatively moderated by third gender status. This demonstrates that third gender research participants who experienced certain forms of HIV stigma were less likely to be depressed than cisgender participants. These findings indicate resilience amongst third gender people living with HIV and can be used to better tailor social policies and gender-affirming HIV care programs in south India.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between HIV stigma, gender, and depression among people living with HIV in Hyderabad, India

Journal Community Psychology

Jokhakar

Vaudrey

et al. 2022

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“…The present analysis uses data from a larger mixed methods study examining HIV stigma in Hyderabad, India. The conceptual model, theoretical framework, and parent study design are described in depth elsewhere (Azhar, 2019; Azhar et al, 2019). The study population included 150 people living with HIV in Hyderabad, India.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…HIV stigma in India has also been found to be a strong predictor of social isolation and depression (Bharat et al, 2001; Gohain & Halliday, 2014; Steward et al, 2011), particularly among cisgender women in Hyderabad, India (Azhar et al, 2019). Cisgender women and third gender people disproportionately bear the brunt of HIV stigma on both socioeconomic and psychological levels (Bharat et al, 2014) by facing heavier caregiving burdens, worse health care, and more severe depression (Hiremath & Desai, 2018; Naik et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between HIV stigma and social support for people living with HIV in Hyderabad, India

Tripathi

2022

Int J Soc Welfare

The present study examined the association between social support and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) stigma through a survey of 150 people living with HIV (PLWH) in Hyderabad, India. Survey items to assess social support were adapted from the HIV Cost Services and Utilization Survey. HIV stigma was measured using Zelaya and Jeyaseelan scales that were previously validated in India. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed an inverse association between social support and HIV stigma across both stigma scales. Depression further intensified the level of stigma faced by PLWH who had lower levels of social support. Third‐gender individuals experienced significantly higher HIV stigma and lower social support than cisgender men. Social support must be used as a protective factor in current HIV stigma reduction interventions. Findings highlight the need to adopt a gender‐sensitive social support framework in HIV care policies to better address HIV stigma in the Indian context.

“…(2) How often do you distance yourself from family/social gatherings because of your gender identity? Additional survey questions regarding HIV stigma were also asked, but given the focus of this article on gender nonconformity, those results are not provided here (Azhar et al, 2020a).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Secret lives and gender fluidity of people living with HIV in Hyderabad, India

Journal Community Psychology

Vaudrey

Gandham

et al. 2021

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