Navigating cultural and gender aspects of stigma among women living with HIV in Vietnam

Abstract

Women living with HIV often face intersecting challenges of stigma and gender inequality. In Vietnam, this issue is potentially exacerbated by the patriarchal culture. From December 2021 to March 2022, we conducted in-depth interviews with 30 women living with HIV in Hanoi to better understand their experiences and the coping mechanisms to navigate HIV stigma, cultural beliefs and gender norms. The interviews explored various topics including women’s social and family roles in Vietnam, HIV-related beliefs, stigma and its impact on one’s health and coping strategies. Participants reported stereotypes that assumed that women living with HIV had either engaged in sex work or behaved promiscuously. These stereotypes render them vulnerable to judgement and discrimination owing to widespread expectations of female virtue. As a result, women living with HIV often enacted non-disclosure and self-isolation to avoid stigma. This self-stigmatisation negatively impacted their healthcare-seeking, employment opportunities and ability to fulfil traditional family-caring roles. Conversely, many participants exhibited resilience with the support of family and peers. Overall, the complex interplay between gender, culture and HIV stigma underscores the importance of developing culturally appropriate, multifaceted approaches to engaging family and peers, modifying gender-based discriminatory social practices and enhancing women’s self-efficacy and empowerment in Vietnam.

Keywords:

• HIV
• stigma
• women
• Vietnam
• qualitative study

Acknowledgements

We thank the outpatient clinics in Nam Tu Liem and Hoang Mai Districts of Hanoi, the Vietnam Network of People Living with HIV and the Vietnam Network of Sex Workers for their help in recruiting participants for this study.

Disclosure statement

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

Notes

1 Less than 10% of countries have punitive legal and policy environments that deny access to justice’; less than 10% of people with HIV and key populations experience stigma and discrimination; and less than 10% of women, girls, people with HIV and key populations experience gender inequality and violence).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Fogarty International Center (FIC) via grant number R21TW012018 and the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) through grant number P30MH058107.