How gay men living with HIV experience and perceive the HIV stigma: A qualitative study

Abstract

Since HIV’s arrival, it has been stigmatised which has resulted in severe consequences for those living with HIV. Surveys on individuals living with HIV suggest that this group’s physical health and lives has improved through medical advancements but that stigmatisation remains an issue. There is little Norwegian research on the experience of HIV-related stigma among gay men, a group proportionally at greater risk of infection. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate how HIV-related stigma is experienced and perceived by gay men living with HIV and how they deal with it. The study was conducted by interviewing 10 gay men living with HIV in Norway. The interviews were analysed through thematic analysis. Based on the narratives, the findings were organised into four themes and discussed as followed: ‘Encountered stigmatisation’, ‘Living with a secret stigma and the matter of disclosure’, ‘Self-Perception and self-stigma’, and ‘A sense of responsibility’. Contexts, connections, and implications of the findings are presented and discussed. HIV-related stigma is still experienced as an issue among some, but not all, gay men living with HIV. Self-stigma is reported as being the most prevalent issue. Suggested applications of the findings are presented.