title: Identifying Strategies to Cope with HIV-Related Stigma in a Group of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: Internalized HIV-related stigma negatively impacts the mental and physical health of women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHA). Yet, some women can successfully confront stigma. The present work uses qualitative methods to investigate the successful stigma coping strategies displayed by 19 WLWHA who reported the least internalized stigma possible on the Internalized AIDS-Related Stigma Scale out of a larger pool of 233 WLWHA in San Felipe de Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Such strategies included, HIV disclosure control; preemptive disclosure of HIV-status; educating oneself/others about HIV; viewing HIV as a manageable condition; and looking to family, friends and partners for support. Our findings add to current knowledge about how WLWHA successfully manage internalized stigma, particularly in the context of the Dominican Republic. Clinicians should work closely with WLWHA to counsel them about the stigma coping strategies that best fit their life context.
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10032, USA. cr2857@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Christine Tagliaferri
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Rael
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carballo-Diéguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, University of Colorado-Denver, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado-Denver, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Eryka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thorley
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giguere
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheinfil
authors.affiliation: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Javier López
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rios
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012747:Sexual Partners; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Coping strategies; Dominican republic; HIV; Stigma