eHealth for Stigma Reduction Efforts Designed to Improve Engagement in Care for People Living with HIV

• Published in: Current HIV/AIDS reports Vol. 15; no. 6; pp. 397 - 402
• Main Authors: Rao, Deepa, Frey, Sarah, Ramaiya, Megan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anti-HIV Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral therapy; HIV; HIV and Technology (J Simoni and K Ronen; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - psychology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Section Editors; Social Stigma; Stigma; Telemedicine; Topical Collection on HIV and Technology; Intervention; HIV; Stigma; Technology; HIV treatment engagement; eHealth
• ISSN: 1548-3568; 1548-3576
• DOI: 10.1007/s11904-018-0414-z

Purpose of Review HIV-related stigma remains a significant barrier to engagement in care for persons living with HIV (PLWH) worldwide. This review examines the use of eHealth technologies for reducing stigma as a pathway toward improved engagement in care for PLWH. We provide a brief overview of effective stigma reduction interventions for PLWH, both eHealth and others; identify gaps in the research on use of eHealth technologies for stigma reduction; and suggest potential research avenues moving forward. Recent Findings The majority of HIV-related eHealth studies use technology to improve ART adherence. To date, few HIV-related eHealth studies have included any measurement of stigma. Summary Given the current narrow evidence base, further research is needed to determine whether eHealth technologies can help to reduce stigma and improve engagement in care for PLWH.