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Raj A, Gnatienko N, Cheng DM, Blokhina E, Dey AK, Wagman JA, Toussova O, Truong V, Rateau L, Lunze K, Krupitsky E, Samet JH. Provider-patient experiences and HIV care utilization among people living with HIV who inject drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia. Int J Qual Health Care 2023; 35:mzad068. [PMID: 37642351 PMCID: PMC10558037 DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/mzad068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Providers' disrespect and abuse of patients is a recognized but understudied issue affecting quality of care and likely affecting healthcare utilization. Little research has examined this issue among people living with HIV (PWH) who inject drugs, despite high stigmatization of this population. No research has examined this issue in the context of Russia. This study assesses patients' reports of disrespect and abuse from providers as a barrier to healthcare and examines the association between these reports and HIV care outcomes.We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the associations between disrespect/abuse from health providers as a barrier to care and the following HIV care outcomes: (i) anti-retroviral treatment (ART) uptake ever, (ii) past 6-month visit to HIV provider, and (iii) CD4 count. Participants (N = 221) were people living with HIV who injected drugs and were not on ART at enrollment.Two in five participants (42%) reported a history disrespect/abuse from a healthcare provider that they cited as a barrier to care. Those reporting this concern had lower odds of ever use of ART (adjusted odds ratio 0.46 [95% CI 0.22, 0.95]); we found no significant associations for the other HIV outcomes. We additionally found higher representation of women among those reporting prevalence of disrespect/abuse from provider as a barrier to care compared to those not reporting this barrier (58.1% versus 27.3%).Almost half of this sample of PWH who inject drugs report disrespect/abuse from a provider as a barrier to healthcare, and this is associated with lower odds of receipt of ART but not with other HIV outcomes studied. There is need for improved focus on quality of respectful and dignified care from providers for PWH who inject drugs, and such focus may improve ART uptake in Russia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Raj
- Newcomb Institute, Tulane University, 43 Newcomb Place, Suite 301, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
- Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | | | - Debbie M Cheng
- Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot Bldg, 715 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Elena Blokhina
- Pavlov University, Ulitsa L’va Tolstogo, 6-8, St. Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Arnab K Dey
- Center on Gender Equity and Health, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. 0507, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jennifer A Wagman
- University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Olga Toussova
- Biostatistics & Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot Bldg, 715 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Ve Truong
- Boston Medical Center, One BMC Place, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Lindsey Rateau
- Biostatistics & Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot Bldg, 715 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Karsten Lunze
- Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Evgeny Krupitsky
- Pavlov University, Ulitsa L’va Tolstogo, 6-8, St. Petersburg 197022, Russia
- V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, 3 Bekhtereve St., St. Petersburg 192019, Russia
| | - Jeffrey H Samet
- Boston Medical Center, One BMC Place, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot Bldg, 715 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Public health services and intersectional stigma: a social sciences perspective with implications for HIV service design and delivery. Curr Opin HIV AIDS 2023; 18:18-26. [PMID: 36444656 DOI: 10.1097/coh.0000000000000769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Understanding stigma is important for improving HIV care services and gaps in HIV service delivery have been attributed to stigma. This review article synthesizes recent evidence on stigma and its implications for HIV service design and delivery. Given the intersectional nature of stigma, we will focus on HIV stigma as well as related forms of stigma based on one's race, sexual identity, gender identity and other identities. RECENT FINDINGS Stigma remains a barrier to achieving equity in HIV services. Individualistic measures of stigma remain influential and are associated with barriers to accessing HIV health services. Recent work also highlights stigma measured at a structural level and its impact on HIV services contexts. Individuals situated at intersections of marginalized identities continue to face greatest injustices, and although intersectional approaches have been adapted to design services at a micro level, few focus on structural change. Recent evidence for mitigating stigma indicates some success for psychosocial interventions that target internalized stigma. Furthermore, community-led approaches show promise in addressing stigma that manifests in HIV health services settings. SUMMARY Interventions that address individual-level stigma and structural stigma are needed. Theoretical and applied antistigma research is needed to make HIV services more equitable.
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