title: HIV stigma: perceptions from HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in a community dental clinic.
abstract: 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 cross-sectional surveys, the Berger Stigma Scale and the Rutgers-Modified Berger Stigma Scale, were employed in order to analyze the stigma factors of an HIV-positive population versus an HIV-negative general population, respectively. The HIV stigma factors studied included personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, negative self-image, and concern with public attitudes.Results.The total stigma scale scores for the studied HIV-positive population were significantly lower than the total stigma scale scores for the studied HIV-negative population (P < 0.05).Conclusion.Interestingly, there is a misplaced expectation by the general population that HIV-positive individuals experience more stigma than the HIV-positive population in the clinic actually reported. Interventions to reduce HIV stigma should be an integral component of comprehensive care for all patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Rutgers , The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Rutgers , The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: A York
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Rutgers , The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: DePinto
keywords: Attitudes; HIV/AIDS; mental health; public health; self-perception; stigma