271009 HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma in Faith-Based Settings

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Jason D. Coleman, PhD, MSPH , School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE
Jay A. Irwin, PhD , Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE
Lisa Lindley, DrPH, MPH, CHES , Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Bambi Gaddist, DrPH , South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council, South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council, Columbia, SC
Jacob White, MD , South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council, South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council, Columbia, SC
Background: HIV/AIDS stigma has been widely studied and well documented in the United States and worldwide. Stigma remains a major structural barrier to addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, particularly within racial minority populations. The purpose of this study was to measure HIV/AIDS-related comfort and attitudes as indicators of stigma among congregation members in predominately African American faith-based organizations (FBOs) that participated in Project FAITH (Fostering AIDS Initiative that Heal), a statewide stigma reduction and HIV/AIDS prevention project in a southeastern state.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to congregants from FBOs that participated in Project FAITH. Likert-type scales were utilized to measure HIV/AIDS-related attitudes and comfort. Independent variables included gender, age, education level, and frequency of church attendance. Difference of means test, ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc analyses were conducted to determine differences in comfort and attitudes.

Results: The dataset included 2,158 adults. Survey respondents were predominately Black/African American (n=2,085, 97.1%) and female (n=1,483, 70.1%). By gender, females reported greater HIV/AIDS comfort (p<.05) and more positive attitudes (p<.001) than males. By age, persons ages 18-25 years were the least comfortable with HIV-positive persons when compared to other age groups (p<.001). Persons who attended church at least once a week reported greater HIV/AIDS comfort (p<.001) and more positive attitudes (p<.05) than those who attended less frequently.

Conclusions: Addressing HIV/AIDS-related stigma remains critical for the development and implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention interventions. Results from this study may be used to guide the creation of strategies for predominately African American FBOs.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain differences in HIV/AIDS-related stigma by gender, age, education level, and frequency of church attendance. Discuss strategies for HIV/AIDS stigma reduction in faith-based settings.

Keywords: HIV Interventions, Faith Community

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I led the research study from which presentation will be developed.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4118.0: HIV & AIDS in Distinctive Populations