A Review of the State of the Science of HIV and Stigma: Context, Conceptualization, Measurement, Interventions, Gaps, and Future Priorities

Stigma is a fundamental cause of health inequities. As such, stigma is a major barrier to HIV prevention, care, and treatment. This review will examine the concept of stigma, explicating the mechanisms of action of HIV-related stigma while also examining intersectional stigma and structural stigma. Instruments to measure HIV-related stigma and its mechanisms of action, as well as stigma enacted and experienced by HIV health care providers, will also be reviewed. This article will conclude with a review of stigma interventions, gaps in the literature, and priorities for future HIV, intersectional, and structural stigma research.

Automated summary

Stigma is identified as a fundamental barrier to health equity, especially in the context of HIV prevention, care, and treatment. This article reviews the concept of stigma, mechanisms of action of HIV-related stigma, measurement tools, enacted and experienced stigma among HIV health care providers, and interventions to address stigma, highlighting gaps in the literature and future research priorities on HIV, intersectional, and structural stigma.