July 13, 2016

The consequences of stigma among people living with and vulnerable to HIV infection are significant and far-reaching. Stigma is frequently cited as a significant barrier to successful pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, access and utilization. Despite having been approved in the U.S. since 2012, only an estimated 4% of the 1.2 million adults with indications for PrEP have used it, even briefly.

Stigma, however, is a nebulous concept that is often inadequately explained in the context of HIV care and prevention. What do we mean when we say that stigma impacts our efforts to scale up PrEP and other prevention options? What are the specific individual behaviors, cultural norms, organizational practices and government policies that contribute most to HIV prevention stigma?

This webinar, presented by Treatment Action Group and the HIV Prevention Justice Alliance, explores different forms of stigma that continue to pose a significant barrier to accessing comprehensive HIV prevention services, including sexual and drug-using stigmas, racism, homophobia, and transphobia. Also, the webinar looked at how we might better include assessments of stigma within HIV prevention research, discuss how prevention-related stigma is different from the stigma of living with the virus, and consider advocacy options for combatting stigmas related to HIV prevention.

Panelists included:

• Jeremiah Johnson, HIV Prevention Research and Policy Coordinator, Treatment Action Group
• Sarit A. Golub, Professor, Hunter College and the Graduate Center of City University of New York
• Matthew Rose, Policy Associate, National Minority AIDS Council