Stigma and other correlates of self-esteem and depression in cisgender men and transfeminine persons with HIV who have sex with men in Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa (HPTN 075)

作者：Erica L. Hamilton, Xu Guo, Sufia Dadabhai, Ravindre Panchia, Arthur Ogendo, Doerieyah Reynolds, Ying Qing Chen, Theo Sandfort, the HPTN 075 study team · 发表于：AIDS Care · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1080/09540121.2025.2488874 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions、Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health、Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare

HIV-related stigma profoundly impacts individuals living with HIV, hindering self-esteem and access to treatment. Few studies, if any, have assessed the effects of stigma on depression and self-esteem among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transfeminine persons (TFP) with HIV in African settings. We explored factors, including various forms of stigma, contributing to low self-esteem and poor mental health among 71 MSM and TFP in Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa, using data from the HPTN (HIV Prevention Trials Network) 075 study. Lower self-esteem was associated with moderate to severe depression and was significantly lower among those who experienced HIV as a stigma. Moreover, participants who had encountered MSM-related stigma in healthcare settings were more likely to exhibit moderate to severe depression. Being employed was a protective factor against depression. These results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing MSM-related stigma in healthcare settings and enhancing self-esteem through employment opportunities for MSM and TFP living with HIV might contribute toward ending the HIV epidemic.