HIV Stigma Toward People Living With HIV and Health Providers Associated With Their Care: Qualitative Interviews With Community Members in Egypt

Abstract

We explored perceived HIV stigma by community members in a low-HIV-prevalence setting toward people living with HIV (PLWH) and physicians associated with HIV in order to develop operational stigma reduction recommendations for HIV referral hospitals. In-depth interviews (N = 30) were conducted with educated and less-educated men and women in Egypt. Thematic analysis was applied to identify drivers, manifestations, and outcomes of stigma. Stigma toward PLWH was rooted in values and fears, manifesting in reluctance to use the same health facilities as PLWH. Stigma toward physicians providing care for PLWH was caused by fear of infection and developed into unwillingness to use those physicians' services. Stigma toward physicians who refused to provide care was linked to perceptions of unethical behavior. HIV referral hospitals in low HIV prevalence settings could benefit from stigma reduction interventions with a special focus on addressing moral-based stigma and fear of casual transmission.