Family interaction and social stigmatization of people living with HIV and AIDS in Puerto Rico

Abstract

This article aims to describe the manifestation of HIV stigma in the family context and how this could impact the life of people living with HIV (PLWH). The data derive from a larger phenomenological study addressing manifestations of stigma in the lives of PLWH when interacting with the health sector. Nine focus groups were carried out in 2011 with PLWH (N=67). Eight themes emerged from the qualitative analysis. For the purpose of this article, we focus on the categories related to family dynamics: the negotiation of disclosure and non-disclosure, fear of the HIV virus and family dynamics, and life as a couple. Socio demographic information showed that 53% were between 44 to 54 years old, 80% were single, 51% were male, 42% did not complete a high school diploma, 82% were unemployed. Also, 82% described themselves as religious persons and 41% had lived with HIV for 10 years or less. Qualitative results show stigma is still present in the family context. PLWH experience fear of disclosure, discrimination, avoid initiating families or couple relationships, experience physical and verbal abuse from relatives, and even separation from other family members. After more than 30 years of the ongoing HIV epidemic, stigma is still manifested by family members with detrimental social and medical implications for PLWH. Research and educational efforts should continue addressing manifestations of stigma among family members of PLWH.

HIV Testing Among Latino Emerging Adults: Examining Associations with Familism Support, Nativity, and Gender

“…This sense of family support and close relationships emphasized by familism may be protective for health and health behaviors [14][15][16]. However, in some instances such as when the behavior is stigmatized (e.g., HIV testing), people may feel hesitant to seek support from familial networks [17,18].…”

Patients’ experiences of treatment migration from ART triple pill to fixed-dose combination therapy in Ngaka Modiri Molema District, North West Province, South Africa

“…On the other hand, this prevents and undermines the provision of support from anyone who could be in a good position to remind them when it is time to take treatment. Most studies indicate that adherence to ART can be aided through the use of family and social support [35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. Hornschuch et al [34] reported that PLWH mentioned different reminder methods during ART treatment including alarms, medication charts, family members, and friends.…”

“…PLWH mentioned that when they visit their relatives, they do not take treatment because they tend to laugh at them and, as a result, they do not like visiting other people. The stigma attached to PLWH can be brought by both family members of the affected person and the society around them [39][40][41][42][43][44]. It is based on this reason that many PLWH may not disclose to family, friends and other community members in fear of being stigmatised and isolated.…”

A study on the adaptation of the HIV/AIDS‐related Stigma Scale into Turkish

“…In recent years, HIV/AIDS patients have faced stigmatization, which is a negative experience caused by the disease (Zhang et al, 2021). The relevant literature shows that stigmatization is most frequently encountered in mental illnesses and other conditions including addiction, AIDS, tuberculosis, obesity, cancer and disability (Bogart et al, 2019; Craig et al, 2017; Kudva et al, 2020; Matthews et al, 2017; Puhl et al, 2020; Rivera‐Díaz et al, 2017; Shiri et al, 2018). According to the data from the Joined Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, 34.6% of the people aged 15–49 in Angola, a country in southwestern Africa, discriminate against and stigmatize the HIV‐positive people (UNAIDS, 2019).…”