AIDS stigma and health professionals in Puerto Rico

描述(由申请人提供)：艾滋病的污名，或围绕艾滋病毒/艾滋病患者的负面含义，是由围绕这一流行病的神话和错误观念造成的(Herek&Grunt，1988，p.886)。艾滋病污名有多种负面的心理社会后果，包括焦虑、抑郁、家庭动态中断、身体和情感暴力、丧失社会支持以及与健康相关专业人员的生产关系恶化(Chesney&Smith，1999；Kalichman，1998B；Nord，1997)。 鉴于拉美裔社区，特别是波多黎各人的艾滋病毒病例不断增加，有必要解决消除艾滋病污名的问题，特别是在与艾滋病毒携带者接触的专业人员中，如卫生领域的人员(Nord，1997)。艾滋病污名在医生、护士、精神卫生专业人员、社会工作者和其他照顾者等卫生服务提供者中已有记录(Acuff等人，1999；Gordon等人，1993；Herek&Grunt，1988；Rizzo，2002；Silverman，1993；Stevenson&Storhm Kitchener，2000；Trezza，1994；Ventura，1999)。这些对艾滋病毒+人群的污名化态度是不幸的，特别是当研究报告那些感到被卫生专业人员羞辱的人面临获得最佳卫生服务的问题时(Link&Phelan，2001；Valdiserri，2002；Weiss&Ramakrishna，2001)。就在2002年，感染艾滋病毒/艾滋病的人还记录了波多黎各卫生专业人员的污名化态度。研究结果表明，需要通过有效的干预措施来解决艾滋病污名的问题，这些干预措施包括围绕艾滋病流行的其他污名，例如对性取向、吸毒者和妇女的负面态度。为了做到这一点，必须探索卫生专业人员中围绕艾滋病毒/艾滋病的污名组合。 这项研究应用的主要目的是：1)探索波多黎各卫生专业人员对艾滋病毒/艾滋病患者的污名化态度；2)探索同一人群中对性别、性取向和药物使用的其他污名化态度与艾滋病污名的相互作用；3)完善和试行针对这些专业人员的减少污名化干预模块。这些目标将通过采用定性的深度访谈和针对艾滋病污名问题的定量自填式问卷的顺序混合方法研究来实现。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): AIDS stigma, or negative meanings surrounding people living with HIV/AIDS, has been fostered by myths and false notions surrounding the epidemic (Herek & Glunt, 1988, p. 886). AIDS stigma has multiple negative psychosocial consequences including anxiety, depression, disruption of family dynamics, physical and emotional violence, loss of social support and the deterioration of productive relations with health-related professionals (Chesney & Smith, 1999; Kalichman, 1998b; Nord, 1997). Given the growing number of HIV cases among the Latino community in general, and Puerto Ricans in specific, it is necessary to address the eradication of AIDS stigma, particularly among professionals who interact with HIV+ individuals such as those in health related fields (Nord, 1997). AIDS stigma has been documented among health services providers such as doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, social workers and other caregivers (Acuff, et al., 1999; Gordon, et al., 1993; Herek & Glunt, 1988; Rizzo, 2002; Silverman, 1993; Stevenson & Storhm Kitchener, 2000; Trezza, 1994; Ventura, 1999). These stigmatizing attitudes towards HIV+ people are unfortunate, especially when research has reported those who feel stigmatized by health professionals face problems accessing optimal health services (Link & Phelan, 2001; Valdiserri, 2002; Weiss & Ramakrishna, 2001). As recently as 2002 stigmatizing attitudes among health professionals in Puerto Rico have been documented by people living with HIV/AIDS. Findings suggest the need to address AIDS stigma through effective interventions that incorporate other stigmas surrounding the epidemic such as negative attitudes towards sexual orientation, drug users, and women. In order to do so, stigma combinations surrounding HIV/AIDS among health professionals must be explored. The main objectives of this research application are to: 1) to explore stigmatizing attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS among health professionals in Puerto Rico, 2) to explore the interaction of other stigmatizing attitudes towards gender, sexual orientation, and drug use with AIDS stigma in the same population, and 3) to refine and pilot test an intervention module for stigma reduction geared towards these professionals. These objectives will be achieved through the implementation of a sequential mixed method study using qualitative in-depth interviews and a quantitative self-administered questionnaire addressing AIDS stigma.