The people living with HIV stigma survey UK 2015: HIV-related sexual rejection and other experiences of stigma and discrimination among gay and heterosexual men

Abstract

We aim to understand the difference in stigma and discrimination, in particular sexual rejection, experienced between gay and heterosexual men living with HIV in the UK. The People Living with HIV StigmaSurvey UK 2015 recruited a convenience sample of persons with HIV through over 120 cross sector community organisations and 46 HIV clinics to complete an online survey. 1162 men completed the survey, 969 (83%) gay men and 193 (17%) heterosexual men, 92% were on antiretroviral therapy. Compared to heterosexual men, gay men were significantly more likely to report worrying about workplace treatment in relation to their HIV (21% vs. 11%), worrying about HIV-related sexual rejection (42% vs 21%), avoiding sex because of their HIV status (37% vs. 23%), and experiencing HIV-related sexual rejection (27% vs. 9%) in the past 12 months. In a multivariate logistic regression controlling for other sociodemographic factors, being gay was a predictor of reporting HIV-related sexual rejection in the past 12 months (aOR 2.17, CI 1.16, 4.02). Both gay and heterosexual men living with HIV experienced stigma and discrimination in the past 12 months, and this was higher for gay men in terms of HIV-related sexual rejection. Due to the high proportion of men reporting sexual rejection, greater awareness and education of the low risk of transmission of HIV among people on effective treatment is needed to reduce stigma and sexual prejudice towards people living with HIV.

Association between stigma towards HIV and MSM and intimate partner violence among newly HIV-diagnosed Chinese men who have sex with men

“…HIV stigma can further involve labeling, segregating, stereotyping or discriminating towards people living with HIV via social, economic, or political means [21]. Experiencing HIV-related stigma is not uncommon for MSM living with HIV/AIDS [22,23], and may play a role in IPV. Among pregnant women living with HIV in South Africa, for example, greater HIV-related stigma was associated with greater combined physical and psychological IPV [24], and women living with HIV reporting high HIVrelated stigma reported more frequent physical IPV, social isolation and helplessness [25].…”

Sexual and Mental Health Inequalities across Gender Identity and Sex-Assigned-at-Birth among Men-Who-Have-Sex-with-Men in Europe: Findings from EMIS-2017

“…In a large community-based survey of people living with HIV in the UK, 0.4% (4/970) of the MSM were trans while 80% (4/5) of the trans men were MSM [ 38 ]. So, in the UK at least, while trans MSM are under-represented among MSM with HIV (i.e., trans MSM do not appear to have elevated rates of HIV compared to cis MSM), trans MSM are very over-represented among trans men with HIV (i.e., sex with men is the major risk factor for trans men to acquire HIV).…”

Depression, HIV, and COVID-19: A Deadly Trifecta

“…As it relates to HIV/AIDS, self-reported discrimination based on HIV-positive status is elevated among homosexual men compared with heterosexual men, and internalization of institutional discrimination among PLWH who use substances is common. 35,36 This discrimination eroded social support for those based on HIV-positive status, which hinders acquisition of care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and attainment of viral suppression as well as worsens the mental health of homosexual men and people who inject drugs. [35][36][37][38] COVID-19 is not without examples of disinformation and concomitant discrimination based on perception of presence or absence of illness or ethnic or racial status.…”

“…35,36 This discrimination eroded social support for those based on HIV-positive status, which hinders acquisition of care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and attainment of viral suppression as well as worsens the mental health of homosexual men and people who inject drugs. [35][36][37][38] COVID-19 is not without examples of disinformation and concomitant discrimination based on perception of presence or absence of illness or ethnic or racial status. To start, health care workers and those believed to be ill with COVID-19 in Central America, Africa, and India have been attacked or barred from public transportation in their communities.…”

“…35,36 This discrimination eroded social support for those based on HIV-positive status, which hinders acquisition of care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and attainment of viral suppression as well as worsens the mental health of homosexual men and people who inject drugs. 35-38…”