Positive and stigmatizing interactions between people with HIV and health care providers

People living with HIV experience stigmatization in numerous settings including health care. Through semi-structured interviews, we explored the perspectives of both PLWH (n=22) and health care providers (n=14) on their interactions. PLWH reported a number of negative and positive experiences. Negative experiences included awkward interactions, rude behaviour, excessive precautions, compromised care, and breached confidentiality while health care providers perceived their interactions to be adequate and appropriate. Positive experiences were being treated equally, receiving extra attention, feeling valued, social support provision, and assurances of confidentiality. Health care providers reported having limited but adequate HIV-related knowledge and feeling that their interactions with PLWH are appropriate and professionals. At the same time, they reported taking extra precautions and labelling patient files to reduce occupational risks. These findings point to a discrepancy in the perception and experience of interactions between PLWH and health care providers. They also suggest that stigmatization on the part of health providers is likely unintentional and instrumental rather than symbolic. Implications for interventions will be discussed.