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Stigma

HIV-related stigma is a significant problem globally. HIV stigma inflicts hardship and suffering on people living with HIV and interferes with research, prevention, treatment, care and support efforts. HIV-related stigma refers to negative beliefs, feelings and attitudes towards people living with HIV, their families and people who work with them. HIV stigma often reinforces existing social inequalities based on gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality and culture. Stigma against many vulnerable populations who are disproportionately affected by HIV (such as the stigma of homosexuality, drug use, poverty, migration, transgender status, mental illness, sex work and racial, ethnic and tribal minority status) predates the epidemic and intersects with HIV stigma, which compounds the stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV (PLWH) who belong to such groups.1 HIV-related discrimination, also known as enacted HIV stigma, refers to the unfair and unjust treatment of someone based on their real or perceived HIV status. Discrimination also affects family members and friends, caregivers, healthcare and lab staff who care for PLWH. The drivers of HIV-related discrimination usually include misconceptions regarding casual transmission of HIV and pre-existing prejudices against certain populations, behaviors, sex, drug use, illness and death. Discrimination can be institutionalized through laws, policies and practices that unjustly affect PLWH and marginalized groups.

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Designing Primary Prevention for People Living with HIV

This monograph is based largely on presentations and discussion at the June, 1999 policy forum Primary HIV Prevention: Designing Effective Programs for People Living with HIV. The Forum was hosted by the AIDS Research Institute at UCSF and the National Association of People with AIDS. The Forum was sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Prevention Strategies of HIV Positive Injection Drug Users (VENUS Study)

New HIV infections are decreasing among IDUs. This decrease has been related to the practice of injection risk reduction among IDUs such as the use of needle exchange programs where available. However, recent research has found that sexual risk behavior among IDUs may account for more new HIV infections than injection practices.2 We need to know more about the sexual practices of IDUs. To date, most HIV prevention efforts have focused on how HIV negative people can stay negative. This has overlooked the important role that HIV positive individuals can play in the prevention of new HIV infections. HIV positive people also need support to not spread the virus and to keep themselves healthy (avoid STDs, Hepatitis C, abscesses, etc.). The need for prevention efforts targeting HIV positive individuals has only recently been addressed.
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National HIV Testing Day—June 27, 2010

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Project Explore

Explore is a nationwide HIV prevention behavioral trial involving nearly 4,300 men who have sex with men. Explore is one of the largest behavioral studies of its kind, and includes participants recruited from six cities: Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. (posted 8/06)