The impact of HIV - related stigma on HIV Care and Prevention providers

Very little is known about the extent to which HIV care and prevention providers who work for U.S. community-based organizations are affected by the types of stigma that have been well documented as impacting those living with HIV and those who provide direct care to these individuals. To explore the existence and characteristics of this phenomenon, the HIV Provider Stigma Scale was developed and administered to 795 HIV service providers in 47 U.S. states. Stigma levels were higher among those whose sexual orientation was reported as heterosexual and those who had worked in the HIV field for less than 5 years. Those with the highest levels of stigma also reported decreased levels of social and occupational functioning. The extent to which the social stigmas of HIV and AIDS impact those who work professionally in the field could have important implications for the continued sustainability of the workforce, particularly in areas of the world with still developing HIV service infrastructures.