Medical Mistrust and Stigma Associated with COVID-19 Among People Living with HIV in South Africa.
AIDS Behav
; 25(12): 3967-3977, 2021 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1230260
ABSTRACT
We evaluated COVID-19 stigma and medical mistrust among people living with HIV in South Africa. We conducted telephone interviews with participants in a prospective study of a decentralized antiretroviral therapy program. Scales assessing medical mistrust, conspiracy beliefs, anticipated and internalized stigma, and stereotypes specific to COVID-19 were adapted primarily from the HIV literature, with higher scores indicating more stigma or mistrust. Among 303 participants, the median stigma summary score was 4 [interquartile range (IQR) 0-8; possible range 0-24] and 6 (IQR 2-9) for mistrust (possible range 0-28). A substantial proportion of participants agreed or strongly agreed with at least one item assessing stigma (54%) or mistrust (43%). Higher COVID-19 stigma was associated with female gender and antecedent HIV stigma, and lower stigma with reporting television as a source of information on COVID-19. Further efforts should focus on effects of stigma and mistrust on protective health behaviors and vaccine hesitancy.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
HIV Infections
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
AIDS Behav
Journal subject:
Behavioral Sciences
/
SINDROME DA IMUNODEFICIENCIA ADQUIRIDA (AIDS)
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10461-021-03307-8
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