Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Feb 26:11:2333794X241234566.
doi: 10.1177/2333794X241234566. eCollection 2024.

Using Narrative Films to Combat HIV-Related Stigma in Western Kenya: An Exploratory Pilot Study of Adolescents Living With HIV and Their Caregivers

Brittany M McCoy  1   2 , Carole I McAteer  2 , Celestine Ashimosi  2 , Josephine Aluoch  2 , C Thomas Lewis  3 , Winstone Nyandiko  2   4 , Rachel C Vreeman  1   2   4
Affiliations

Using Narrative Films to Combat HIV-Related Stigma in Western Kenya: An Exploratory Pilot Study of Adolescents Living With HIV and Their Caregivers

Brittany M McCoy et al. Glob Pediatr Health. .

Abstract

Objective. Interventions that effectively address HIV-related stigma are urgently needed to improve outcomes for adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). We piloted a series of 4 short narrative films depicting Kenyan ALHIV's lived experiences of stigma and discrimination with 57 ALHIV and 50 adult caregivers of ALHIV in western Kenya. Methods. Participants completed either pre- and post-viewing questionnaires, including an HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination scale, or participated in post-viewing focus group discussions. Three-month follow-up visits were conducted. Results. Caregivers endorsed significantly greater disagreement with stigmatizing statements on the scale at 3-month follow-up, whereas adolescents had no significant differences in scores. Participants reported they believed the films would have a positive impact on their communities and had led to changes in their own attitudes, beliefs and/or behavior. Conclusion. The HIV Stigma Films may show promise as an intervention to reduce stigmatizing attitudes and beliefs about HIV-infection, especially among caregivers of ALHIV.

Keywords: HIV; adolescents; media; stigma.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. UNICEF. For every child, end AIDS - seventh stock taking report. 2016. Accessed December 6, 2023. https://www.unicef.org/reports/every-child-end-aids-seventh-stocktaking-...
    1. CDC. HIV stigma and discrimination. 2021. Accessed December 6, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/hiv-stigma/index.html
    1. Kalichman SC, Simbayi LC. HIV testing attitudes, AIDS stigma, and voluntary HIV counselling and testing in a black township in Cape Town, South Africa. Sex Transm Infect. 2003;79(6):442-447. doi:10.1136/sti.79.6.442 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Obermeyer CM, Osborn M. The utilization of testing and counseling for HIV: a review of the social and behavioral evidence. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(10):1762-1774. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.096263 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Steward WT, Bharat S, Ramakrishna J, Heylen E, Ekstrand ML. Stigma is associated with delays in seeking care among HIV-infected people in India. J Int Assoc Providers AIDS Care. 2013;12(2):103-109. doi:10.1177/1545109711432315 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources