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Correlates of Stigma among Rural Indian Women Living with HIV/AIDS

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Abstract

AIDS-related stigma has received increasing attention in the literature; however, little is known about the devastating impact it has on rural women living with AIDS (WLA) in India. This cross-sectional study (N = 68), analyzed from complete baseline data, identified a number of correlates of stigma among rural WLA in South India. Structured instruments were used to capture sociodemographic history, stigma, knowledge of HIV, depressive symptoms along with the recording of CD4 data. A higher level of felt stigma and more AIDS symptoms were related to avoidant coping, while fewer adherence strategies and lower support for antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence were also associated with avoidant coping. These findings promote the need for support and resources for rural Indian WLA.

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Acknowledgment

Support for this research was provided by Grant MH82662 from the National Institute on Mental Health.

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Correspondence to Adeline Nyamathi.

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Nyamathi, A., Ekstrand, M., Zolt-Gilburne, J. et al. Correlates of Stigma among Rural Indian Women Living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Behav 17, 329–339 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0041-9

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