Shutting Down HIV & PrEP Stigma:

What is HIV stigma?

As described by HIV.gov: HIV stigma includes negative attitudes and convictions held against individuals living with HIV.

Where does stigma come from?

Stigma comes from biases. These biases start when groups of people categorize someone as belonging to another group perceived/labeled as socially unacceptable.

The source of HIV stigma is apprehension of HIV itself. The history of the HIV virus is surrounded in and linked to perceptions shaped by the initial HIV-related images from the early 1980’s.

This has led HIV to be INCORRECTLY labeled as impacting historically stigmatized groups such as men who have sex with men.

What is HIV stigma’s history?

How is this connected to PrEP and HIV prevention?

These stigmas have led to barriers in:

  • Health providers learning more about HIV and its prevention

  • Stigma being connected to PrEP medications as they are associated with stigmatized risk behaviors

  • Fear about talking to healthcare team members about potential HIV risks

  • Research shows of those that would benefit from PrEP only 10% are being prescribed it (Source: Seigler et al. 2018)

Curious? Want to learn more? Ready to stomp out these stigmas?

Check out these Websites to learn more!