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. 2023 Jul;27(7):2103-2112.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-022-03942-9. Epub 2022 Dec 6.

"I want the doctors to know that I am as bright as a candle": : Experiences with and Hopes for Doctor Interactions Among Malaysian Key Populations and People Living with HIV

Valerie A Earnshaw  1 , Jon Cox  2 , Pui Li Wong  3 , Rumana Saifi  3   4 , Suzan Walters  5 , Iskandar Azwa  3 , Sharifah Faridah Syed Omar  3 , Zachary K Collier  6 , Asfarina Amir Hassan  4 , Sin How Lim  7 , Jeffrey Wickersham  8 , Marwan S Haddad  9 , Adeeba Kamarulzaman  3   4
Affiliations

"I want the doctors to know that I am as bright as a candle": : Experiences with and Hopes for Doctor Interactions Among Malaysian Key Populations and People Living with HIV

Valerie A Earnshaw et al. AIDS Behav. 2023 Jul.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Stigma in healthcare settings is a pernicious barrier to HIV prevention and treatment in contexts with strong HIV-related structural stigma. Previous work has documented substantial stigma towards key populations and people living with HIV (PLWH) among Malaysian doctors. The perspectives of Malaysian key populations and PLWH, however, remain understudied. In 2021, 34 Malaysian participants representing key populations and PLWH engaged in a photovoice study designed to qualitatively explore their experiences with and hopes for doctor interactions. Many participants reported stigma from their doctors, perceiving that doctors view them as not normal, sinful, misguided, and incapable. Several emphasized that they wear figurative masks to conceal aspects of themselves from doctors. Yet, many also remain hopeful for constructive relationships with doctors. They want their doctors to know that they are bright, capable, kind, and valuable. Interventions are needed to address stigma among doctors working in contexts with strong structural stigma.

El estigma en los ambientes de atención médica es una barrera perniciosa en la prevención y el tratamiento del VIH. Investigaciones anteriores han documentado un estigma sustancial hacia los grupos de población clave y las personas que viven con el VIH (PLWH por sus siglas en inglés) entre los médicos de Malasia. Sin embargo, las perspectivas de los grupos de población clave y las PLWH en Malasia siguen sin estudiarse. En 2021, 34 participantes que representaban los grupos de población clave y PLWH en Malasia participaron en un estudio de fotovoz diseñado para explorar cualitativamente sus experiencias y esperanzas en las interacciones con los médicos. Muchos participantes describieron el estigma de sus médicos, percibiendo que los médicos los ven como no normales, pecaminosos, equivocados e incapaces. Varios enfatizaron que usan máscaras figurativas para ocultar aspectos de ellos mismos a los médicos. Sin embargo, muchos también mantienen la esperanza de tener relaciones constructivas con los médicos. Quieren que sus médicos sepan que son inteligentes, capaces, amables y valiosos. Se necesitan intervenciones para abordar el estigma estructural entre los médicos que trabajan en la prevención y el tratamiento del VIH.

Keywords: HIV; Key Populations; Photovoice; Stigma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
How do doctors see you?
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
What do you want doctors to know about you?
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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