The Canadian study found that the degree of HIV stigma was the same regardless of the time period in which the diagnosis was made. The set of variables associated with stigma also did not change.
The outcomes were published in the journal AIDS Care. Experts analyzed and compared HIV stigma levels over four different time periods:
- before the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (before 1996);
- the early era of combination therapy (1996 – 1999);
- the “modern era” period (2000 – 2009);
- the era when HIV treatment was seen as prevention (2010 – 2018).
Data were collected from 644 participants from British Columbia who completed the Berger HIV Stigma Scale. Higher points indicated higher stigma. 22% of people were an average age of 50 years.
The unadjusted mean points were 17 before 1996, 20 between 1996 and 2009, and 19 after 2010. However, when the data were modified to account for age, gender, ethnicity and mental health, these differences disappeared.
Stigma points were higher among people who injected drugs (PWID), were unemployed and living in unstable housing, regardless of the date of diagnosis. Men who have sex with other men had the highest rate (23). Participants 40-49 years old reported higher stigmatization than people over 60 years old (27 vs. 17).
According to the study, HIV stigma has not decreased despite the fact that HIV is now a manageable chronic disease. Experts emphasize that social and structural measures are needed to combat stigma.