HIV Diagnosis Disclosure: Stigma Management and Stigma Resistance

Abstract

This article reports diagnosis disclosure decision comments arising serendipitously in five focus group discussions with 34 HIV-infected New Yorkers over age 50. Three overarching disclosure themes demonstrate the complexity of diagnosis disclosure decision-making: (a) hiding or selectively disclosing, or stigma management; (b) partial disclosure because of the perception of partial control of the information; and (c) widespread or complete voluntary diagnosis disclosure, representing stigma resistance. Social workers and other human services practitioners should remember the diversity in the HIV population, the aging population, and the HIV-positive aging population. Experiences of HIV stigma and choices about diagnosis disclosure and stigma management or resistance are individual, reciprocal, and dynamic.