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01-09-2021 | Care | Original Paper

HIV and Substance Use Stigma, Intersectional Stigma and Healthcare Among HIV-Positive PWID in Russia

Authors: Marina V. Vetrova, Debbie M. Cheng, Sally Bendiks, Natalia Gnatienko, Christine Lloyd-Travaglini, Wenqing Jiang, Jason Luoma, Elena Blokhina, Evgeny Krupitsky, Dmitry Lioznov, Maria L. Ekstrand, Anita Raj, Jeffrey H. Samet, Karsten Lunze

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 9/2021

Abstract

Little is known about the intersection of HIV stigma and substance use stigma. Using data from 188 HIV-positive people who inject drugs (PWID) in Russia, we examined the associations of these stigmas and their interaction with access and utilization of healthcare. While substance use stigma was significantly associated with poor access to care (AOR 2.31, 95%CI 1.50–3.57), HIV stigma was not. HIV stigma was associated with lower inpatient care utilization (AOR 0.32, 95%CI 0.14–0.65), while substance use stigma was not. We did not detect a significant interaction between the two forms of stigma for either of the primary outcomes. However, those with high levels of both substance use stigma and HIV stigma had higher odds of poor general access to healthcare (AOR 1.86, 95%CI 1.19–2.92), and lower odds of recent general outpatient (AOR 0.52, 95%CI 0.32–0.85) and any inpatient (AOR 0.48, 95%CI 0.22–0.99) care utilization compared to those with low levels of both types of stigma. Interventions addressing both substance use and HIV stigma in general healthcare settings might improve care in this HIV key population.

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Title: HIV and Substance Use Stigma, Intersectional Stigma and Healthcare Among HIV-Positive PWID in Russia
Authors: Marina V. Vetrova
Debbie M. Cheng
Sally Bendiks
Natalia Gnatienko
Christine Lloyd-Travaglini
Wenqing Jiang
Jason Luoma
Elena Blokhina
Evgeny Krupitsky
Dmitry Lioznov
Maria L. Ekstrand
Anita Raj
Jeffrey H. Samet
Karsten Lunze
Publication date: 01-09-2021
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Care
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Published in: AIDS and Behavior / Issue 9/2021
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-021-03172-5

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