Stigma towards clients in HIV/AIDS care settings

Abstract

Stigmatizing behaviors engaged by care providers in clinical settings represent a significant barrier to care seeking on the part of persons living with HIV. The majority of studies addressing stigma by healthcare workers has been reported in the developing world. The current study sought to determine the presence of stigmatizing thoughts and behaviors in Ryan White Care Act funded clinics across the United States. The study used a quantitative descriptive design, and included all such sights in the US and its territories. The results indicated that paraprofessional personnel were more likely to engage in thoughts and behaviors that reflect stigma. This finding is significant since these individuals are the first people who patients contact when seeking care, establishing a significant barrier to retention in care. The study reflects a need to engage education and training designed to minimize these behaviors in paraprofessionals.