scholarly journals “Stigma and HIV Are Like Brother and Sister!”: The Experience of African-Born Persons Living with HIV in the US

Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Alina Cernasev ◽  
William L. Larson ◽  
Cynthia Peden-McAlpine ◽  
Todd Rockwood ◽  
Paul L. Ranelli ◽  
...  

Minnesota has seen an increase in the number of immigrants from Africa, notably in the mid-1990s, making up around 2% of Minnesota’s total population. This population also faces many impediments that cause important difficulties not only for HIV prevention but also for treatment and care options. The objectives of this study were to capture the experiences of Persons Living with HIV (PLWH) in Minnesota (US) and to elicit their stories about their diagnosis news and what management strategies they use for coping with the stigma associated with the disease. Participants were recruited via fliers in pharmacies, clinics, and HIV service centers located in Minnesota. Recruitment continued until thematic saturation was obtained. Fourteen subjects participated in audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews that were transcribed verbatim into written text. The transcriptions were analyzed using Thematic Analysis. Three themes emerged from the data. Theme 1: Cruel News: “HIV-Oooooo! I wish I was dead”, Theme 2: This is My Secret! and Theme 3: “Stigma and HIV are brother and sister”. The results demonstrate that stigma is an ever-present problem in African-born PLWH living in the US. Participants perceived the stigma associated with HIV status to affect their lives and culture at individual, familial, and societal levels.

Author(s):  
Chia-Hui Yu ◽  
Chu-Yu Huang ◽  
Nai-Ying Ko ◽  
Heng-Hsin Tung ◽  
Hui-Man Huang ◽  
...  

People living with HIV (PLWH) face social stigma which makes disclosure of HIV status difficult. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to understand the lived experiences of stigmatization in the process of disease disclosure among PLWH in Taiwan. Analysis of the semi-structured interviews from 19 PLWH in Taiwan revealed two phases and six themes. Phase one “experiences before disclosure” involved three themes: “Struggles under the pressure of concealing the HIV Status,” “Torn between fear of unemployment/isolation and desire to protect closed ones,” and “Being forced to disclose the HIV status.” Phase two “experiences after disclosure” included three themes: “Receiving special considerations and requirements from school or work,” “Receiving differential treatments in life and when seeking medical care,” and “Stress relief and restart.” Healthcare professionals need to assess stigmatization in PLWH and develop individualized approaches to assist with the disease disclosure process.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 346
Author(s):  
Shuyu Han ◽  
Yaolin Pei ◽  
Lina Wang ◽  
Yan Hu ◽  
Xiang Qi ◽  
...  

Persons living with HIV (PLWH) continuously experience symptom burdens. Their symptom prevalence and severity are also quite different. Mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) offer exceptional opportunities for using personalized interventions when and where PLWH are needed. This study aimed to demonstrate the development process of the symptom management (SM) app and the structure and content of it. Our research team systematically searched for evidence-based resources and summarized up-to-date evidence for symptom management and health education. Our multidisciplinary research team that included physicians, nurses, software engineers, and nursing professors, evaluated the structure and content of the drafted app. Both quantitative data and qualitative results were collected at a group discussion meeting. Quantitative data were scores of sufficient evidence, situational suitability, practicability, cost-effectiveness, and understandability (ranged from one to four) for 119 items of the app contents, including the health tracking module, the self-assessment module, coping strategies for 18 symptoms (80 items), medication management, complementary therapy, diet management, exercise, relaxation techniques, and the obtaining support module. The SM app was comprised of eight modules and provided several personalized symptom management functions, including assessing symptoms and receiving different symptom management strategies, tracking health indicators, and communicating with medical staff. The SM app was a promising and flexible tool for HIV symptom management. It provided PLWH with personalized symptom management strategies and facilitated the case management for medical staff. Future studies are needed to further test the app’s usability among PLWH users and its effects on symptom management.


2011 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 1049-1057 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric G. Benotsch ◽  
Vivian M. Rodríguez ◽  
Kristina Hood ◽  
Shannon Perschbacher Lance ◽  
Marisa Green ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-64
Author(s):  
Mioriţa Toader ◽  
◽  
Daniela Neacşu ◽  
Alina Oprea ◽  
Andreea Şerbănică ◽  
...  

HIV pediatric pathology is currently facing a large number of specialists such as neonatologists, pediatricians, family physicians, oncologists, otorhinolaryngologists, pharmacists, pediatric infectious disease, etc. The involvement of epidemiologists, nurses, social workers, sociologists, support groups together not by politicians is imperative, essential for the diagnosis, management and prevention of HIV infection require focusing on mothers of children and families within dysfunctions social and poverty. Social problems that a child infected with HIV face are almost always overwhelming: drug abuse, discrimination against minority people living with HIV, poverty, poor access to adequate medical services, family breaking when the HIV status of a family member is learned by and other domestic violence, are important to consider. Countries like Romania must learn what is good and what is bad about the AIDS epidemic in the US and Western Europe not to repeat their mistakes and at the same time to rediscover principles generally available today.


Author(s):  
Adobea Y Owusu ◽  
Mabel Teye-kau ◽  
Eric Y Tenkorang

Summary Due to stigma, discrimination and economic insecurity, persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) are highly vulnerable to housing instability. For instance, PLWHAs are more likely to either remain stable in inadequate homes or change residence. Yet, few studies explore the contexts of housing stability and change among PLWHAs, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority reside. This study used qualitative in-depth interviews to explore the narratives of 38 PLWHAs on the contexts of housing stability and the circumstances leading to change in residence. On diagnosis with HIV, the majority of PLWHAs (58%) changed housing locations, mostly from bad to worse conditions. Reasons for change include: eviction due to stigma and discrimination, inability to afford rent, quest to hide HIV status and death of a cohabiting partner. Our findings suggest policy makers should pay attention to the deplorable and poor housing conditions of PLWHAs in Ghana.


2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minrie Greeff ◽  
Rene Phetlhu ◽  
Lucia N. Makoae ◽  
Priscilla S. Dlamini ◽  
William L. Holzemer ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S49-S50
Author(s):  
Frank Spinelli ◽  
Bruce Richman ◽  
Patricia De Los Rios ◽  
Benjamin Young ◽  
Marvelous Muchenje ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The educational campaign “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U) began in 2016 to improve the well-being of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and recalibrate HIV-related social norms. As medical practice can vary by region, we examined reports from PLHIV in North American countries to identify if the campaign affected healthcare provider (HCP) communication of U=U and if positive health outcomes differed by U=U-informed status or country. Methods Data were collected from the 2019 Positive Perspectives survey of PLHIV in Canada (n=120), Mexico (n=63), and the United States (US; n=400) and stratified by country. Outcomes were self-rated mental and sexual health (“Good”/”Very good”), viral suppression, and sharing of HIV status. Treatment perceptions were also assessed. Results Whether diagnosis occurred before or after the U=U campaign launch did not significantly affect the proportion of PLHIV who reported receipt of U=U from an HCP in any North American country. Whether an individual was informed of U=U varied significantly by sexual orientation (heterosexual, 62.8%; homosexual, 74.9%; other, 87.8%), sex (men, 64.7%; women, 89.8%; other, 100%), and metropolitan vs non-metropolitan residence (metropolitan, 78.2%; non-metropolitan, 65.2%) in the US (P< 0.01 for all) but not in Canada or Mexico. Prevalence of sharing of HIV status with ≥ 1 person besides an HCP varied among PLHIV (Canada, 87%; Mexico, 95%; US, 84%). Prevalence of other positive outcomes varied by country and whether PLHIV had been informed of U=U (Figure). Whether PLHIV were informed of U=U was also correlated with treatment satisfaction and the perception that treatment needs were being met among PLHIV in the US and Canada (P< 0.01 for all), and with the belief that treatment prevents transmission among PLHIV in the US (P=0.01). Figure. Prevalence of positive outcomes among PLHIV in Canada (n=120), Mexico (n=63), and the US (n=400). PLHIV, people living with HIV; US, United States; U=U, Undetectable = Untransmittable. *P<0.01 for U=U informed vs uninformed. Conclusion Being informed of U=U was associated with higher treatment satisfaction, and higher mental and sexual health outcomes among PLHIV in North America. Receipt of U=U was associated with significantly higher treatment satisfaction among PLHIV in the US and Canada, and significantly more PLHIV with optimal mental and sexual health in the US. Disclosures Frank Spinelli, MD, ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Bruce Richman, JD, ViiV Healthcare (Consultant) Patricia De Los Rios, MSc, GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Benjamin Young, MD, PhD, GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Nicolas Van de Velde, PhD, ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Chinyere Okoli, PharmD, MSc, DIP, GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee)


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 160-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheluchi Onyemelukwe

HIV/AIDS remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with over three million persons living with the condition. Throughout the history of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, persons living with the condition have faced stigma and discrimination in various areas including access to health services, access to education, access to employment, among others. In the past, because of lacunae in Nigerian law and jurisprudence, it has been the subject of debate whether Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS are adequately protected by law. Recent developments in legislation such as the federal HIV/AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act, 2014 and judicial decisions in 2012 and 2016 on discrimination on the basis of HIV status suggest a positive shift of the law to full protection of the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, particularly in the area of employment. This article provides an analysis of these recent developments in the law and argues that the time has come to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to include health status as a ground upon which one cannot be unduly discriminated against.


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