Perceptions of Stigma in Women Infected with HIV

AIDS Patient Care and STDsPublished 1 June 1996

Linda Moneyham, Brenda Seals, Alice S. Demi, Richard L. Sowell, Leland Cohen, Joyce Guillory

DOI10.1089/apc.1996.10.162

Source URL

Citations67

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score1.22

SNIP1.13

TL;DR

This qualitative focus group study explored perceptions of stigma in HIV-seropositive women by asking participants to talk about and describe their perceptions of how others think about and respond to them and other HIV-infected individuals.

Abstract

This qualitative focus group study explored perceptions of stigma in HIV-seropositive women. The sample included 19 HIV-positive women who participated in one of four focus group sessions. Participants were asked to talk about and describe their perceptions of how others think about and respond to them and other HIV-infected individuals. Content analysis was used to code the data and identify participant perceptions. Four themes representing distinctly different perceptions of stigma were identified: distancing, overgeneralizing stereotypes, social discomfort, and pity. The implications of the findings for intervention and future research are discussed.

Keywords

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