HIV-related stigma among South Asians in Toronto

Abstract

Objectives. This paper explores the nature of HIV-related stigma among South Asians in Toronto, its consequences for people living with it and its role in determining access to HIV services.

Design. The study is based on data from four focus group discussions with members of an HIV outreach organization, HIV-positive men and women, and women of different ages from the mainstream South Asian community. The questions were adapted from the Explanatory Model Interview Catalog that has been widely used to assess health-related stigma.

Results. HIV-related stigma was found to be high in Toronto's South Asian community. Respondents perceived it to be greater among South Asians than in other Canadian communities. South Asian families were said to harbor the most stigma, often rejecting HIV-positive members. Differences were noted between first- and second-generation South Asian migrants in knowledge about, and stigma toward, HIV. Women living with HIV were found to be particularly disadvantaged and stigmatized. Because of stigma, many people living with HIV concealed their illness and avoided HIV-related services.

Conclusion. Major gaps in knowledge about HIV among Canadian South Asians, and a considerable amount of stigma against people living with HIV, were found. The implications of stigma were highly problematic for people living with HIV, impeding access to services and social support. The paper concludes with recommendations to address stigma, based on suggestions from the study's participants.

Keywords:

• HIV
• South Asians
• Toronto
• stigma
• focus group discussions

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from Health Canada's HIV/AIDS Global Engagement Grants Program, 2007–2008. The abstract of this paper was presented at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network conference in November 2009.

Notes

1. HIV estimate is a range, based on 2005 data. Other estimates of prevalence are at the higher end of the spectrum (e.g., report by A. Picard, Globe and Mail, 22 July, 2010 on results reported at International AIDS Conference, Vienna, 2010) but the data from Canada's official data source are cited here.

2. An excellent overview and analysis of conceptualizations of multiculturalism in terms of sociological theory, and the implications for the meaning of multiculturalism in Canada can be found in Wong (2008).

3. The outreach organization is not named for reasons of confidentiality.

4. Alluding to rapid dissemination of rumors in the South Asian Diaspora (‘brown’ referring to skin color).