HIV-related stigma among African-American youth in the Northeast and Southeast US

AIDS Behav. 2014 Jun;18(6):1063-7. doi: 10.1007/s10461-013-0687-6.

Abstract

HIV-related stigma inhibits optimal HIV prevention and treatment among African-Americans. Regional differences in HIV/AIDS prevalence may be related to stigma among young African-Americans. Baseline data (N = 1,606) from an HIV prevention intervention were used to investigate regional differences in HIV-related stigma and knowledge among African-American adolescents in four midsized cities in the Northeastern and Southeastern US. Analyses indicated greater HIV-related stigma among adolescents from the Southeast relative to adolescents from the Northeast (F = 22.23; p < 0.0001). Linear regression indicated a negative relationship between HIV stigma and HIV knowledge (b = -0.65; p < 0.0001). Addressing HIV/AIDS in high prevalence locales should include efforts to reduce HIV-related stigma.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / ethnology*
  • Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
  • Black or African American* / psychology
  • Black or African American* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / ethnology
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • Health Education
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • New England / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Quality of Life
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Social Stigma*
  • Southeastern United States / epidemiology