title: Social Support, Stigma and Disclosure: Examining the Relationship with HIV Medication Adherence among Ryan White Program Clients in the Mid-South USA.
abstract: Social support from friends and family is positively related to better health outcomes among adults living with HIV. An extension of these networks such as religious communities may be an untapped source of social support for promoting HIV medical adherence. This paper explores the association of HIV medication adherence to satisfaction with support from family, friends and church members, as well as HIV-related stigma, and HIV disclosure. In partnership with the Shelby County Health Department, the Memphis Ryan White Part A Program, and the University of Memphis School of Public Health, a total of 286 interviewer-administered surveys were conducted with Ryan White clients. Seventy-six percent (n = 216) of participants reported being prescribed antiretroviral medication (ARVs). Nearly all participants (n = 202, 94%) prescribed ARVs reported disclosing their HIV status to someone. Almost 20% (n = 40) of those prescribed ARVs reported not being satisfied with support received from his/her church. Interestingly, participants reported rarely experiencing stigma as a result of their HIV status. The extent to which satisfaction with support from personal networks and institutional settings like the church affect medication adherence is yet to be understood. The complexity of HIV disclosure and HIV stigma in relation to these supports warrants further investigation to understand how best to improve HIV health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Robison Hall, Memphis, TN 38152, USA. lcpichon@memphis.edu.
authors.forename: Latrice C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pichon
authors.affiliation: Shelby County Health Department Epidemiology Section, 814 Jefferson Ave., Memphis, TN 38105, USA. kristenraerossi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kristen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Robison Hall, Memphis, TN 38152, USA. saogg@memphis.edu.
authors.forename: Siri A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ogg
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Robison Hall, Memphis, TN 38152, USA. ljkrull@memphis.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Krull
authors.affiliation: Shelby County Government, 160 N. Main St., Suite 250, Memphis, TN 38103 USA. Dorcas.Young@shelbycountytn.gov.
authors.forename: Dorcas Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006296:Health Services; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CBPR; HIV; church; medication adherence; patient care