Diversity, stigma, and social integration among older adults with HIV

The population of people with HIV is aging globally as access to anti-retroviral therapy becomes more widely available. The diversity of older population with HIV has an impact on their experiences of stigma. HIV stigma may be enacted or felt. Enacted stigma is the prejudice, discrimination, and mistreatment that individuals and societies use to sanction people with HIV. Felt stigma refers to the internalized feelings of shame, guilt, and fear that arise from enacted stigma. Nondisclosure is rooted in the fear of negative consequences of revealing one’s HIV status, such as losing a job, or being rejected by one’s social network. Stigma may also affect social integration through self-protective withdrawal to avoid anticipated stigma. In addition to facing HIV stigma, people with HIV may possess multiple discredited identities due to their race, ethnicity, gender identity, etc., which is described as intersectionality. Older age represents an additional intersectional identity that affects people with HIV through the experience of ageism. Stigma and discrimination from HIV or any discredited identity are linked to poorer physical and mental health outcomes. Given the pervasiveness of stigma, it is not surprising that many older adults with HIV are socially isolated and report greater self-perceived stigma compared to those who are more socially integrated. While there is evidence that HIV stigma has declined compared to previous eras, more research is needed on HIV stigma among older adults in low- and middle-income countries to design policies and programs to combat HIV stigma globally.