Ann P. Zukoski|Sheryl Thorburn
Experiences of Stigma and Discrimination among Adults Living with HIV in a Low HIV-Prevalence Context: A Qualitative Analysis
Oregon State University|Oregon State University
little known people living hiv low prevalence contexts face challenges stigma discrimination low prevalence rural communities unique environments hivrelated stigma discrimination may intensified due lower tolerance differences among people greater fear hiv study examined experiences 16 individuals living hiv reside predominantly rural area low hiv prevalence used indepth interviews explore participants experience stigma discrimination social health care settings behavioral emotional responses daytoday lives participants described feeling social rejection forced follow different rules social contact treated differently health care settings participants described specific instances felt providers afraid refused discouraged treatment treated differently based hiv status participants experienced stigma acts discrimination different settings eg physician dentist offices hospitals range types providers eg physicians nurses dentists behavioral emotional responses perceived acts stigma discrimination included anger shame social isolation selfadvocacy findings point need develop tailored interventions address stigma discrimination individuals health care personnel communityatlarge