Interventions to reduce self-stigma/internal stigma among people living with HIV Sys Review

What is it about?

Our newly published systematic review paper highlighting 35 studies from 13 countries in the review, 32 of which show promise to reduce HIV-related internal/self-stigma. What actually works..... effective interventions mainly work on thoughts, feelings and beliefs and include cognitive-based, mindfulness, and inquiry-based techniques, reflective and creative bespoke training, and person-centered counseling approaches. Many include a forward-looking goal focus. Issues with different definitions and different measurement scales makes cross comparison difficult. In the paper we describe the interventions in more detail, the level, approach, dosage, content and the theoretical basis for them. We also propose a new definition that can be used to guide research and programmes as follows: “Self-stigma/internal stigma, is a mindset of negative beliefs, thoughts and behaviours about HIV, which manifests as shame, guilt, feelings of contamination, self-loathing, low self-esteem, and self-rejection.”

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