Age and Year of HIV Diagnosis Are Associated with Perceptions of Discrimination and Internalized Stigma Among Sexual Minority Men Who Use Substances

Overview

Journal AIDS Behav

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2021 Jun 12

PMID 34117966

Citations 4

Authors

Abigail W Batchelder

Claire Burgess

Jacob Perlson

Conall OCleirigh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Discrimination and internalized stigma are barriers to engagement in HIV self-care among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. However, differences in perceptions of discrimination and internalized stigmas by age, year of HIV-diagnosis, and race are poorly understood. We assessed differences in reported discrimination related to HIV, race, sexual orientation, and substance use and internalized stigmas among 202 MSM living with HIV who use substances. Younger participants reported higher levels of all types of discrimination and internalized stigmas (p-values < 0.001-0.030). Those diagnosed after the advent of antiretrovirals reported higher levels of discrimination related to HIV, sexual orientation, and substance use, as well as internalized stigma related to HIV and substance use (p-values 0.001-0.049). We explored perceived community HIV stigma, which accounted for associations involving age and year of diagnosis. Age, year of diagnosis, and race should be considered when assessing and intervening with stigma.

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