Stigma/Barriers
in Healthcare
ADAP Advocacy Association
Washington DC 2014
Jeff Allen – President
Omar Mayes- Chair
Mary Bennefield- Co-chair
Positive Champions Speakers
Bureau Inc.

If you've been diagnosed with HIV (human
immunodeficiency virus) or know someone who
has, the need for support and compassion
couldn't be greater. Too often HIV-positive people
become targets of AIDS discrimination. On top of
handling new health challenges, they sometimes
face rejection by family, friends or work. They
may be forced out of homes, lose their jobs or
even become victims of violence.
The Positive Champions Speakers Bureau was created
in a collaborative effort by our local planning
consortia called Partnership for Comprehensive
HIV/AIDS Planning (PCHAP) and the Health Planning
Council of Northeast Florida. It was funded by a grant
through AIDS United Southern Reach in 2011 and
2012. It is operated by an all volunteer group of HIV
positive individuals or those affected by the disease.
www.positivechampions.org ositive
www.positivechampions.org
Some Glaring Barriers…..
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Racial Disparities
Housing (lack of and segregation)
Education
Employment
Healthcare
Incarceration
Stigma
Stigma
 One
of the biggest barriers to health
equity surrounding HIV/AIDS is the stigma
and relative silence associated with the
disease. The stereotype of HIV/AIDS as the
consequence of an individual’s deviant
behavior has perpetuated shame and
discouraged people from knowing their
status and treating it.
Stigma

By expanding the discussion of HIV/AIDS to
include structural factors that contribute to the
high rates of HIV transmission, we can shift
stigma away from individuals and extend the
responsibility for addressing the crisis to the
communities themselves. Moreover the
psychosocial conditions that impact HIV rates
are often the same ones that create health
inequities in general. An integrated and
holistic focus on health and wellness will
reduce stigma.
How does stigma show up?
 What
are your thoughts?
 What
does it look like in your community?
 What
are you doing to address it?
Some ways stigma shows up
are………
A
significant number of people are afraid
to be associated with a place that
provides HIV/AIDS services for fear of
being found out that they are positive.
 Some
men don’t want to be tested
because they fear being seen as gay.
Some ways stigma shows up
are………
 Some
women don’t want to be tested
because they fear that they will be seen
as promiscuous. In addition, they fear
loosing their children, home, or partners.
If we continue to view HIV/AIDS as
something separate from the rest of our
community this stigma will continue to
exist.
The challenges of disclosure
Disclosure of HIV status can be a
difficult and personal decision.
What are the risks and benefits?
What is the impact on others?
What is the impact on self?
Benefits of Disclosure
Allows a person to receive trusted support from others
Reduces isolation and resultant anxiety, fear and worry
Helps a person feel more authentic with people they trust
Decreases the need to be secretive (e.g., hiding medications),
which helps them to comply with adherence
Benefits of Disclosure………
Helps reduce the isolating stigma associated with HIV
Fosters community with others who are HIV+
Adheres to Legal Disclosure laws for some states
Assisting Client’s Disclosure
Identify risks and benefits of disclosure for clients
Develop strategies to assist clients in weighing the risks
and benefits of disclosure
Develop strategies to support clients through the
disclosure process
Self disclosure to clients, family, co-workers and
community often enables clients with their own disclosure
Create a facilitated support
group
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Having it facilitated assures that everyone has
a chance to share in a safe and confidential
environment.
A facilitator can keep the conversation on
topic while assuring that no one is cut off.
In our area we advertised at all HIV service
providers.
We found a place not associated with any
kind of CBO or Health Department which
helped eliminate some of the fear of being
associated with HIV sites.
The conversations within the
group vary.
We talk about:
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Both HIV and non-HIV issues that affect out daily lives
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The pro’s and con’s of disclosure/how to disclose
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Drug reactions and complications
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Sero-partners and fear of transmission

Prep (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)

Guilt and shame that some of us knowingly spread the virus for
fear of disclosure

Issues specific to the newly diagnosed

Issues specific to growing old with the virus
Policies and interventions

Many HIV prevention programs and risk
reduction interventions have focused on HIV
knowledge, sex education and the promotion
of condom use. Although such policies have
effectively decreased sexual risk behaviors,
conservatives have opposed to programs
such as condom education in schools and
distribution. In the past this has led to federal
and state support for abstinence and
abstinence-only programs.
Policies and Interventions

Policies that promote abstinence only and
withhold important health information
(condom education) place individuals at risk
for making unhealthy choices.

While many prefer abstinence only as the sole
solution for unmarried teenagers, the reality is
that many young people are sexually active
and at risk for contracting the virus and/or
other STD’s.
Policies and interventions
 In
addition many policies provide a
predominately heterosexual perspective,
excluding the specific and focused health
needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgendered people, while indirectly
stigmatizing them.
Questions?
Contact info:
Jeff Allen
jeffallen1961@aol.com
386-235-6796
________________________________________
Omar Mayes
trebon7@hotmail.com
386-295-4084
________________________________________
Mary Benefield
btflredrose@yahoo.com
386-307-7877
Positive Champions Speakers Bureau
positivechampions@gmail.com
www.positivechampions.org
www.positivechampions.org
A collaboration with the Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida
and the Partnership for Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Planning council .
We are a premier model for a speakers bureau and we will gladly help
you address stigma in your area.