August 31, 2007

Stigma at the Doc

One out of four people with HIV feel stigmatized by their doctors, says a study published in the August issue of AIDS Patient Care and STDs.

The study was based on a peer review of patients in Los Angeles, many of whom perceived stigma from their health care provider, which discouraged them from receiving medical care. Participants were asked if health care providers were uncomfortable with them, treated them in an inferior manner, preferred to avoid them or refused to serve them. Of the 223 questioned at baseline interviews, 26 percent reported at least one of these four examples of stigma.