HIV stigma: perceptions from HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in a community dental clinic

Background. In the medical sense, stigma has been defined as the collection of negative attitudes and beliefs that are directed at people living with a particular condition or disease process. A cohort study was conducted to explore the HIV stigma that is perceived by HIV-positive individuals versus that perceived by the general population within a community-based dental clinic. Methods. Two separate and independent crosssectional surveys, the Berger Stigma Scale and the RutgersModified Berger Stigma Scale, were employed in order to analyze the stigma factors of an HIVpositive population versus an HIV-negative general population, respectively. The HIV stigma factors studied included personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, negative selfimage, and concern with public attitudes. Results. The total stigma scale scores for the studied HIVpositive population were significantly lower than the total stigma scale scores for the studied HIVnegative population (P<0.05). Conclusion. Interestingly, there is a misplaced expectation by the general population that HIVpositive individuals experience more stigma than the HIVpositive population in the clinic actually reported. Interventions to reduce HIV stigma should be an integral component of comprehensive care for all patients.