Perceptions of community- and family-level injection drug user (IDU)- and HIV-related stigma, disclosure decisions and experiences with layered stigma among HIV-positive IDUs in Vietnam

• Published in: AIDS care Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 239 - 244
• Main Authors: Rudolph, A.E., Davis, W.W., Quan, V.M., Ha, T.V., Minh, N.L., Gregowski, A., Salter, M., Celentano, D.D., Go, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01.02.2012; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Caring; Community; Decision Making; Disclosure; Disease prevention; Drug addicts; Drug use; Family; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - psychology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Infectious diseases; injection drug use; Injections; Intravenous drug addiction; Intravenous drug addicts; layered stigma; Male; Males; Medical sciences; Men; Middle Aged; Perceptions; Preventive programmes; Qualitative Research; Self Disclosure; Social Environment; Social Isolation; Social Stigma; Social structure; Stigma; Stigmatization; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - psychology; Vietnam; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Asia; Vietnam; Social environment; Immunopathology; disclosure; Intravenous administration; Illicit drug; Stigma; Retroviridae; AIDS; layered stigma; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Infection; Virus; Vietnam; Viral disease; Family environment; Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Self disclosure; Perception; Human immunodeficiency virus; Community; injection drug use
• ISSN: 0954-0121; 1360-0451
• DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2011.596517

This paper explores how perceived stigma and layered stigma related to injection drug use and being HIV-positive influence the decision to disclose one's HIV status to family and community and experiences with stigma following disclosure among a population of HIV-positive male injection drug users (IDUs) in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam. In qualitative interviews conducted between 2007 and 2008, 25 HIV-positive male IDUs described layered stigma in their community but an absence of layered stigma within their families. These findings suggest the importance of community-level HIV prevention interventions that counter stigma and support families caring for HIV-positive relatives.