HIV-Related Stigma and Viral Suppression Among African-American Women: Exploring the Mediating Roles of Depression and ART Nonadherence

Lauren Lipira*, Emily C. Williams, David Huh, Christopher G. Kemp, Paul E. Nevin, Preston Greene, Joseph M. Unger, Patrick Heagerty, Audrey L. French, Susan E. Cohn, Janet M. Turan, Michael J. Mugavero, Jane M. Simoni, Michele P. Andrasik, Deepa Rao

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

We used baseline data from a sample of African-American women living with HIV who were recruited to participate in a stigma-reduction intervention in Chicago and Birmingham (2013–2015) to (1) evaluate the relationship between HIV-related stigma and viral suppression, and (2) assess the role of depression and nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) as mediators. Data from women were included in this secondary analysis if they were on ART, had viral load data collected within 8-weeks of study entry and had complete covariate data. We used logistic regression to estimate the total effect of HIV-related stigma (14-item Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness) on viral suppression (< 200 copies/mL), and serial mediation analysis to estimate indirect effects mediated by depressive symptoms (8-item Patient Health Questionnaire) and ART nonadherence (number of days with missed doses). Among 100 women who met study inclusion criteria, 95% reported some level of HIV-related stigma. In adjusted models, higher levels of HIV-related stigma were associated with lower odds of being virally suppressed (AOR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.89–0.98). In mediation analysis, indirect effects through depression and ART nonadherence were not significant. Findings suggest that HIV-related stigma is common among African-American women living with HIV, and those who experience higher levels of stigma are less likely to be virally suppressed. However, the mechanisms remain unclear.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2025-2036
Number of pages12
JournalAIDS and behavior
Volume23
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 15 2019

Funding

This study was made possible by funding from NIMH grant R01-MH98675 (PI: Rao) with additional support from Ms. Lipira’s AHRQ Health Services Training Award (T32 HS013853-13) and Dr. Williams’s VA Health Services Research & Development Career Development Award (CDA 12-276). The authors would also like to extend a special thank you to the women who participated in the Unity Study. This study was made possible by funding from NIMH grant R01-MH98675 (PI: Rao) with additional support from Ms. Lipira’s AHRQ Health Services Training Award (T32 HS013853-13) and Dr. Williams’s VA Health Services Research & Development Career Development Award (CDA 12-276). This study was made possible by funding from NIMH grant R01-MH98675 (PI: Rao) with additional support from Ms. Lipira?s AHRQ Health Services Training Award (T32 HS013853-13) and Dr. Williams?s VA Health Services Research & Development Career Development Award (CDA 12-276). The authors would also like to extend a special thank you to the women who participated in the Unity Study.

Keywords

  • ART adherence
  • African-American women
  • Depression
  • HIV stigma
  • Viral suppression

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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