BACKGROUND: For people living with HIV (PLWH), perceived stigma can become internalized, leading to the adoption of negative beliefs about themselves due to their HIV status. Internalized HIV-related stigma can affect retention in HIV medical care; thus increasing the chance of poor health outcomes. The purpose of this analysis was to determine if there is a relationship between sociodemographic variables and the likelihood of PLWH self-reporting HIV-related stigma.
METHODS: Data for this analysis included Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) participants in Virginia from 2011-2014 (N=875) who attended at least one medical care visit between January 1-April 30 of their respective MMP participation year. Demographic characteristics were summarized; and binary logistic regression models were performed for each independent variable to determine inclusion in the multivariate logistic regression model (where p < .10). The outcome variable for the multivariate regression model was whether someone self-reported HIV-related stigma. Results for the multivariate regression model are reported where p < .05.
RESULTS: The following sociodemographic characteristics met the p < 0.10 significance criterion for inclusion in the final multivariate regression model: age, race, education level, years since HIV diagnosis, household poverty level, binge drinking in past 30 days, and recent symptoms of depression. For the multivariate regression model, Hispanics were less likely to report HIV-related stigma than Black PLWH [adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 0.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.4-0.9]. No differences were found between Hispanic and White PLWH or between Black and White PLWH. In addition, PLWH who reported recent symptoms of depression were more likely to report HIV-related stigma than those who did not report recent depression symptoms [AOR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.8-2.0].
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a relationship between race and internalized HIV-related stigma. In addition, persons reporting HIV-related stigma were also likely to report recent symptoms of depression. It is unclear the direction of the relationship between depression and HIV-related stigma. Screening for depression and asking PLWH about their feelings regarding HIV and stigma could contribute to determining therapeutic means of addressing both issues.