Understanding internalized HIV/AIDS-related stigmas in the Dominican Republic: a short report

Abstract

HIV/AIDS-related stigmas can become internalized, resulting in declines in physical and mental health. Pathways to internalized HIV-related stigma (IS), characterized by persistently negative, self-abasing thoughts, are not well established among women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHA) in the Dominican Republic (DR). Identifying factors involved in self-directed shaming and blaming is important, given the high HIV prevalence in the DR’s most vulnerable populations. The present study sheds light on factors involved in negative and self-abasing thoughts in WLWHA in the DR by examining the relationship between depression, perceived HIV-related stigma from the community (PSC), perceived HIV-related stigma from family (PSF) and IS. The Internalized AIDS-Related Stigma Scale (IA-RSS), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CES-D 10), and an instrument designed to measure perceived HIV-related stigma from the community and family was administered to 233 WLWHA in Puerto Plata, DR. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordered multiple logistic regression. Results showed that depression (OR=1.60; p<0.05), PSC (OR=3.68; p<0.001), and PSF (OR=1.60; p<0.01) were positively associated with IS. These findings indicate that IS-reducing interventions should address HIV-related depression. Additionally, HIV-related treatment and care services should work with WLWHA to adopt healthier attitudes about how community members view people living with HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic.

Identifying Strategies to Cope with HIV-Related Stigma in a Group of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic: A Qualitative Study

“…By doing this, respondents drastically limited the inflow of negative feedback about their HIV diagnosis, which likely helped to reduce internalized stigma. A positive relationship exists between perceived and internalized stigma (30), possibly explaining this result. That is, the more a person believes that others stigmatize him/her, the more likely that person is to agree with these stigmatizing messages.…”

Community-Based Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Delivery for Female Sex Workers in Tanzania: 6-Month ART Initiation and Adherence

“…Lower internalized HIV stigma was also found to be independently associated with ART initiation. Studies have shown that internalized stigma can manifest in a variety of ways, including low self-esteem, self-isolation, shame, withdrawal from seeking health services, and depression [34][35][36], which in turn can impact HIV treatment-seeking behaviors [37]. This suggests that ART services need to adopt strategies to develop a healthy self-perception in relation to their HIV diagnosis and cope psychologically.…”

Community-based HIV treatment service delivery model for female sex workers in Tanzania: Evaluation findings

“…Internalized stigma was fairly common among both study arm participants, although for the most part it was more common in the comparison arm. Studies have shown that internalized stigma can manifest in a variety of ways, including low self-esteem, self-isolation, shame, withdrawal from seeking health services, and depression (Rael and Hampanda 2016;Visser et al 2008;Wingood et al 2008), which in turn can impact HIV treatment-seeking behaviors (Sabapathy et al 2017). This suggests that ART services need to adopt strategies to help patients develop a healthy self-perception in relation to their HIV diagnosis and cope psychologically.…”