Abstract:Women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) bear a higher level of stigma because of their socio-cultural vulnerabilities. Women are more likely to internalize social stigma and produce a sense of shame and loss of self-worth, which results in a delay in health service seeking and compromised health outcomes. In Vietnam, stigma towards WLHA is exacerbated by the deeply rooted female inferiority culture. However, research targeting WLHA is generally lacking. We propose this study to address stigma among WLHA and explore the use of virtual support system in WLHA’s service engagement in Vietnam. The 2-year study will proceed in two phases in Hanoi, Vietnam. Phase 1 will be formative studies, including in-depth interviews with 30 WLHA and focus groups with 20 service providers and community stakeholders. This phase aims to investigate the cultural and contextual background of HIV and gender roles in Vietnam and to identify effective strategies to support and engage WLHA in healthcare. These formative findings will inform the development of an intervention to be pilot tested in the next phase. Phase 2 will be a 6-month intervention pilot with 90 WLHA using an online/offline hybrid approach. During Month 1 of the pilot, WLHA will participate in an in-person section to form mutual support groups and prepare for the following online components. During Month 2-4 of the pilot, study investigators will teach WLHA a series of empowerment strategies to cope with stigma and utilize social support to seek healthcare services. These skills will be taught via interactive online group activities. During Month 4-6, WLHA will self-administer the online groups without the intervention of study investigators. WLHA’s multidimensional stigma measures, mental health burdens, and service use self- efficacy will be assessed at baseline, month 4, and month 6. Progress data of the intervention will be documented to inform the feasibility and sustainability of the online support approach. Acceptability data and feedback will be collected from the WLHA participants upon completion of the 6-month pilot period.

Project Number: 1R21TW012018-01

https://reporter.nih.gov/search/9c5dRBJyvkGOpSB3l9HRSw/project-details/10302007

 

Contact PI/ Project Leader

LIN, CHUNQING,  (lincq@ucla.edu)

 

Organization

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

 

PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: HIV stigma and discrimination have enormous negative impacts on women, and reducing internalized stigma has significant implications for the effort to engage women in HIV prevention and care. This proposed study will devise strategies to empower women living with HIV in Vietnam to combat HIV and gender intersectional stigma. This study will lead to implementable and scalable approaches to promote women living with HIV’s mental health and service seeking not only in Vietnam but also globally.

 

 

Project Start Date: 17-September-2021

Project End Date: 31-May-2023

Budget Start Date: 17-September-2021

Budget End Date: 31-May-2022

 

NIH Categorical Spending

Funding IC:  NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DRUG ABUSE + FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER / FY Total Cost by IC: $219,421