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. 2010 Jan 2;24(1):115-22.
doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3283313e83.

HIV prevention intervention to reduce HIV-related stigma: evidence from China

Li Li  1 , Li-Jung Liang, Chunqing Lin, Zunyou Wu, Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus; NIMH Collaborative HIV/STD Prevention Trial Group
Affiliations

HIV prevention intervention to reduce HIV-related stigma: evidence from China

Li Li et al. AIDS. .

Abstract

Background: The National Institute of Mental Health Collaborative HIV/Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Trial provided a unique opportunity to test whether, with the community-based diffusion of HIV/sexually transmitted disease prevention information and an elevated understanding of HIV, the level of stigmatizing attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS in the community would be reduced.

Method: A total of 4510 market workers in Fuzhou, China, participated in the study, and longitudinal analyses included study samples of 3785 participants in the 12-month follow-up and 3716 participants in the 24-month follow-up. We graphically examined the change in HIV-related stigma indicators over time between control and intervention groups using boxplot and kernel density estimation. A logistic regression analysis with proportional odds model was further used to examine the intervention effect on HIV-related stigmatizing attitudes.

Results: Compared with no change over time for the control group, the intervention successfully reduced the level of HIV-related stigmatizing attitudes among the target population at the 12-month follow-up, and the effect increased by two-fold (with respect to odds ratios) at the 24-month follow-up.

Discussion: The intervention demonstrated positive attitude changes associated with HIV-related stigma. Our results show the importance of social norms, rather than simply individual behaviors, in developing and implementing stigma reduction campaigns.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Boxplots and kernel density estimation of stigma scores at baseline and the two follow-ups by group
Boxplots of stigma scores (a) and kernel density estimation curves of stigma scores for control and intervention groups at (b) baseline, (c) 12-month, and (d) 24-month follow-up visits. Here, clear box in (a) and dashed line in (b)–(d) represent control; shaded box in (a) and solid line in (b)–(d) represent intervention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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