Examining HIV-related stigma among African, Caribbean, and Black church congregants from the Black PRAISE study in Ontario, Canada

ABSTRACT

HIV-related stigma impedes adoption and implementation of effective HIV prevention and treatment strategies. It may also exacerbate racial/ethnic HIV disparities. Given high levels of religious observance within African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities and the social capital that faith-based organizations hold, these entities may be promising venues for stigma-remediation and effective partners in community-based, HIV-focused programing. However, more research is needed to understand HIV-related stigma in these institutions. This study examines HIV-related stigma among six ACB churches in Ontario, Canada. Surveys were distributed to ACB attendees (N = 316) and linear regressions determined relationships between HIV-related stigma and stigma subdomains with demographics, greater disagreement with same-sex relationships, HIV knowledge, and religiosity. Greater disagreement with same-sex relationships was the only variable associated with the HIV-related stigma scale and all of its subscales. Age, gender, HIV knowledge, religiosity, contact with persons living with HIV, and length of time in Canada were associated with varying aspects of HIV-related stigma. Findings can inform the development of HIV-related stigma interventions and the characteristics of individuals these efforts should target to achieve maximum impact.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• stigma
• church
• African
• Caribbean
• Black
• religion

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CBR 135610) and the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN 297). The research team would also like to thank the study participants, participating churches and pastors, collaborating agencies, survey assistants, Susan Nakiweewa, Valérie Pierre-Pierre, and the CIHR Social Research Centre in HIV Prevention (previously at the University of Toronto) for their contributions to this project.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CBR 135610) and the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN 297).