How We Start Erasing the Stigma Around HIV

By
Peter Evans
-

3Overview of the People Living with HIV Stigma Index

First introduced in 2008, the People Living with HIV Stigma Index was created by IPPF, UNAIDS, ICW, and GNP+. It gathers and standardizes data on how stigmas affect the lives of those with HIV. There are up to 100,000 participants from 100 countries around the world. The principles of the index implementation include:

– Advocacy-oriented

– Taking diversity and gender equality into account

– Ownership and accountability of the results and the process

– Establishing the capacity of the People Living with HIV networks in each country

These principles are important to help with the collection, analysis, and application of the data. [4]

What Is HIV Internalized Stigma?

Internalized stigmas are when those people living with HIV have negative thoughts or feelings about themselves because of their current status on the virus and disease. It is estimated that up to 80 percent of adults with the virus with medical care in the US report that they have internalized stigmas around HIV. In the long term, this may lead to feelings of shame, isolation, and depression, which would subsequently affect their overall well-being and how they stick to the treatment plan. [5]

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