Examining HIV-stigma interventions among youth living in sub-Sahara Africa: a systematic review of the evidence

ABSTRACT

HIV-related stigma is a major barrier to accessing prevention, care, and treatment services. Unaddressed HIV stigma weakens the innovative scientific discoveries and efforts of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to combat HIV/AIDS. The review investigated the effects of stigma-informed intervention studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa that measured an outcome related to HIV. We reviewed 248 articles; 13 met our inclusion criteria and were the focus of this study. The findings showed a wide variety of intervention types, from specific to general stigma outcomes. Study outcomes were categorized into HIV prevention and treatment, emotional and behavioral, and external and perceived outcomes. Some studies showed positive effects on stigma; however, research methodologies across studies varied considerably. We conclude that more rigorous research is needed to build evidence for effective stigma reduction and uncover the social and cultural conditions that make HIV stigma so perversive.

KEYWORDS:

• AIDS
• HIV
• interventions
• stigma
• sub-sahara
• effectiveness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study is financed by the European Union-NextGenerationEU, through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, project no BG-RRP-2.004-0009-C02.

Notes on contributors

Eusebius Small

Eusebius Small is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, and a former Fulbright scholar. His research is centered around HIV epidemiology, prevention, and implementation, utilizing a cultural perspective to analyze the impact of social structures on disease.

Silviya Pavlova Nikolova

Silviya P. Nikolova is an Associate Professor at the Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria, and a former Fulbright scholar. Her research work has focused on disability, social inequalities and international development.

Thabani Nyoni

Thabani Nyoni is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His research focuses on the role of social networks and psychosocial support on mental health, and health equity among marginalized and vulnerable populations facing adversity including pandemics, chronic and infectious diseases.

Yuan Zhou

Yuan Zhou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. Her research encompasses a wide range of areas, including Public Health, where she specializes in Epidemiological Modeling and the development of interventions and policies.

Moses Okumu

Moses Okumu is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions in marginalized communities.

Kim L. Lipsey

Kim Lipsey is a Reference Librarian and Education Coordinator at Washington University School of Medicine - St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Megan Westmore

Megan Westmore is a Ph.D. student with a keen focus on outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is also dedicated to the prevention of sexual assault and interpersonal violence, aiming to provide accessible and inclusive healthy relationship and safer sexuality instruction.

LaTisha Thomas

Latisha Thomas a licensed social worker and Ph.D. student, experienced in psychotherapy clinical practice. Her primary commitment is to partner with individuals and families from the BIPOC community as they navigate their path to healing following traumatic experiences. Latisha Thomas, a licensed social worker and Ph.D. student. Her primary dedication lies in partnering with individuals and families as they journey towards healing after traumatic experiences.