Exploring HIV-Related Stigma as a Determinant of Engagement in HIV Care by African American Women. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCoy, Katryna; Lipira, Lauren; Kemp, Christopher G.; Nevin, Paul E.; Huh, David; M. Turan, Janet; Mugavero, Michael J.; Cohn, Susan E.; Bahk, Mieoak; Simoni, Jane M.; Andrasik, Michele P.; Rao, Deepa
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. Volume 31:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 167
• Page End: 175
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: African American -- engagement in care -- health disparities -- HIV -- HIV-related stigma -- women; AIDS (Disease) -- Nursing -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Treatment -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Nursing -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Treatment -- Periodicals; HIV infections -- Periodicals; 616.97920231
• DOI: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000140
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1055-3290

Abstract

Abstract: Engagement in HIV care reduces HIV-related health disparities that persist across racial/ethnic and gender lines; yet, African American (AA) women face multiple challenges to remaining engaged in care, including HIV-related stigma. We analyzed longitudinal data from 239 participants in the Unity Health Study to estimate associations between HIV-related stigma and engagement in care among AA women linked to HIV care. In adjusted Poisson regression analyses, engagement in care was not associated with HIV-related stigma but was associated with older age (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.00–1.01], p = .01), higher levels of education (IRR = 1.18, 95% CI = [1.02–1.35], p = .03), and higher levels of social support (IRR = 1.05, 95% CI = [1.01–1.09], p = .04). Our findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to enhance engagement in care and to incorporate social support into health promotion programming for AA women living with HIV.