“They stigmatize themselves so much that they believe that HIV infection is some kind of dirt:” A qualitative exploration of HIV stigma and intervention needs in Kyiv, Ukraine
1
1 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, United States
2
2 National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyiv, Ukraine
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2600
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
HIV is a commonly stigmatized condition. HIV stigma often results in diminished social support, lower antiretroviral treatment adherence, and worsened mental health.1-3 Different types of stigmas exist: internalized (negative feelings about one’s stigmatized identity), experienced (experiences of being devalued by others), and anticipated (expectations of stigma experiences).4-6 Ukraine has the second largest European HIV epidemic, and over the past decade, reported the highest number of AIDS-related deaths in Europe.7,8 The aim of this qualitative study was to describe current experiences related to HIV stigma and identify contextual factors that may affect the implementation of an evidence-based intervention in HIV clinics in Kyiv, Ukraine.
METHODS:
Purposive sampling was used to recruit 33 participants, including people living with HIV (PLWH) (n=20) and stakeholders (n=13; e.g., psychologists, physicians). Among PLWH, 45% (n=9) were female, 60% (n=12) were between 36-50 years of age, and 75% (n=15) were diagnosed with HIV two+ years ago. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Ukrainian or Russian, recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Interviews were analyzed using deductive and inductive analysis; data were collected from April to June 2025.
RESULTS:
Overwhelmingly, participants acknowledged commonly experiencing stigma. Many noted internalized stigma (e.g., blaming self, fear that others may find out, distancing self from others), experienced stigma (e.g., forced to use separate dishes at home, denied healthcare services once their status was known), and anticipated stigma (e.g., attending HIV care in masks to conceal identities). They also described feelings of depression, fear, trauma, and shame associated with HIV stigma.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings highlight existing intervention needs among PLWH, suggesting that implementing evidence-based interventions to address mental health symptoms and to increase stigma-focused education and coping have the possible benefit of improving health outcomes among PLWH. Focusing on acceptance-based interventions to increase values-aligned behavior may be especially relevant for this population.9,10
HIV is a commonly stigmatized condition. HIV stigma often results in diminished social support, lower antiretroviral treatment adherence, and worsened mental health.1-3 Different types of stigmas exist: internalized (negative feelings about one’s stigmatized identity), experienced (experiences of being devalued by others), and anticipated (expectations of stigma experiences).4-6 Ukraine has the second largest European HIV epidemic, and over the past decade, reported the highest number of AIDS-related deaths in Europe.7,8 The aim of this qualitative study was to describe current experiences related to HIV stigma and identify contextual factors that may affect the implementation of an evidence-based intervention in HIV clinics in Kyiv, Ukraine.
METHODS:
Purposive sampling was used to recruit 33 participants, including people living with HIV (PLWH) (n=20) and stakeholders (n=13; e.g., psychologists, physicians). Among PLWH, 45% (n=9) were female, 60% (n=12) were between 36-50 years of age, and 75% (n=15) were diagnosed with HIV two+ years ago. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Ukrainian or Russian, recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Interviews were analyzed using deductive and inductive analysis; data were collected from April to June 2025.
RESULTS:
Overwhelmingly, participants acknowledged commonly experiencing stigma. Many noted internalized stigma (e.g., blaming self, fear that others may find out, distancing self from others), experienced stigma (e.g., forced to use separate dishes at home, denied healthcare services once their status was known), and anticipated stigma (e.g., attending HIV care in masks to conceal identities). They also described feelings of depression, fear, trauma, and shame associated with HIV stigma.
CONCLUSIONS:
These findings highlight existing intervention needs among PLWH, suggesting that implementing evidence-based interventions to address mental health symptoms and to increase stigma-focused education and coping have the possible benefit of improving health outcomes among PLWH. Focusing on acceptance-based interventions to increase values-aligned behavior may be especially relevant for this population.9,10
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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