title: Spirituality and religion among HIV-infected individuals.
abstract: Spirituality and religion are important to many people living with HIV (PLWH). Recent research has focused on special populations (ethnic-minorities, women, and youth), spirituality/religion measurement, mediating/moderating mechanisms, and individual and community-level interventions. Spirituality/religion in PLWH has been refined as a multidimensional phenomenon, which improves health/quality of life directly and through mediating factors (healthy behaviors, optimism, social support). Spirituality/religion helps people to cope with stressors, especially stigma/discrimination. Spiritual interventions utilizing the power of prayer and meditation and addressing spiritual struggle are under way. Faith-based community interventions have focused on stigma and could improve individual outcomes through access to spiritual/social support and care/treatment for PLWA. Community engagement is necessary to design/implement effective and sustainable programs. Future efforts should focus on vulnerable populations; utilize state-of-the-art methods (randomized clinical trials, community-based participatory research); and, address population-specific interventions at individual and community levels. Clinical and policy implications across geographic settings also need attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, HHB 460Q, 1720 2nd Ave S, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1152, USA, szaflam@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szaflarski
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012067:Religion; D029181:Spirituality; D035862:Vulnerable Populations