Percepção de sorofobia entre homens gays que vivem com HIV

Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho; Angelo Brandelli Costa; Nilse Chiapetti; Lucia Yasuko Izumi Nichiata

doi:10.31211/rpics.2023.9.2.305

Authors

Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho Universidade de São Paulo https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0203-2650
Angelo Brandelli Costa Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0742-8152
Nilse Chiapetti Universidade Federal do Paraná https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7110-8866
Lucia Yasuko Izumi Nichiata Universidade de São Paulo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6515-4404

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31211/rpics.2023.9.2.305

Keywords:

Social Stigma, HIV/AIDS, Male Homosexuality, Serophobia, Prejudice

Abstract

Background: Serophobia or HIV-related stigma is prevalent. In populations that are historically and socially marginalized, the prevalence tends to be more pronounced. This stigma is associated with several negative outcomes in mental health and impairs regular serological testing and adherence to antiretroviral treatment. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate perceived serophobia among gay men living with HIV/AIDS and to examine associations between serophobia and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Method: This was a cross-sectional study involving 138 gay men with a mean age of 36.12 years. A sociodemographic/clinical questionnaire and the Berger Stigmatization Scale were used. Results: The average total score for perceived stigma was 98.56 on a scale ranging from 40 to 160, pointing to a strong tendency among participants to perceive serophobia, both within the community and internalized. Most respondents (72%-95%) reported efforts to conceal their seropositive status, perceiving disclosure as risky and recognizing that the community ostracizes individuals with HIV. A significant negative correlation was observed between serophobia scores and current age but not with income, education, age at HIV diagnosis, housing situation, employment status, and clinical variables. Conclusions: The high levels of perceived serophobia among gay men with HIV highlight this population need for mental health care strategies. Future studies should evaluate the efficacy of targeted interventions to reduce stigma and public campaigns aimed at destigmatizing the disease.

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