Prevalence of HIV-related stigma among people with HIV in Switzerland: addressing the elephant in the room.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_9E5B702A4CFB
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Prevalence of HIV-related stigma among people with HIV in Switzerland: addressing the elephant in the room.
Journal
AIDS
Author(s)
Kampouri E., Damas J., Kusejko K., Ledergerber B., Braun D., Nawej Tshikung O., Hachfeld A., Weisser M., Wissel K., Bernasconi E., Cobos Manuel I., Jackson-Perry D., Eriksson L.E., Reinius M., Cavassini M., Darling KEA
Working group(s)
and the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS)
ISSN
1473-5571 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0269-9370
Publication state
Published
Issued date
01/11/2024
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Editor
Swiss H. I. V. Cohort Study
Volume
38
Number
13
Pages
1874-1884
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Multicenter Study
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
We aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV-related stigma among people with HIV (PWH) in Switzerland.
A cross-sectional multicenter study nested within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS).
We included adult PWH enrolled in the SHCS, attending follow-up between March 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021. Inability to speak English, French, German, or Italian was the only exclusion criterion. Participants were invited to complete a validated 12-item HIV-stigma questionnaire comprising four stigma subscales (negative self-image, personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, and concerns regarding public attitudes), plus two healthcare-related stigma items. Questionnaire responses were graded using a four-point Likert-type scale, higher scores indicating higher stigma. "Non-applicable," inferring HIV-status non-disclosure, was possible for personalized stigma; stigma scores from participants answering "non-applicable" to at least one item were analyzed separately. Factors associated with HIV-stigma were identified through multivariable linear models.
Of 9643 PWH with a SHCS visit, 5563 participated in the study: 26% were female, 13% Black, and 37% heterosexual; median age was 53 years (interquartile range 44-59); 2067 participants (37%) gave at least one "non-applicable" response. Disclosure concerns had the highest stigma scores and were reported by 4656/5563 (84%). HIV-stigma was reported across all demographic groups. However, being female, Black, and heterosexual were independently associated with higher scores. Higher education and longer follow-up duration were associated with lower scores. Healthcare-related stigma was reported in 37% of participants.
HIV-stigma was prevalent across all demographic groups. The association with being female and Black suggests that HIV-stigma accentuates preexisting sex and race inequalities.
Keywords
Humans, Female, Male, HIV Infections/psychology, HIV Infections/epidemiology, Social Stigma, Middle Aged, Switzerland/epidemiology, Cross-Sectional Studies, Adult, Prevalence, Surveys and Questionnaires
Pubmed
Open Access
Yes
Create date
29/07/2024 14:34
Last modification date
01/10/2024 7:07
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