Prevalence of HIV-related stigma manifestations and their contributing factors among people living with HIV in Sweden - a nationwide study.

Background: With access to  antiretroviral therapy (ART) HIV infection is a chronic manageable condition and non-sexually transmissible. Yet, many people living with HIV still testify about experiencing HIV-related stigma and discrimination. It is well-documented that HIV-related stigma and discrimination continue to be critical barriers to prevention, treatment, care and quality of life.

Towards a new understanding of HIV-related stigma in the era of efficient treatment- A qualitative reconceptualization of existing theory.

Aim: To further develop Earnshaw and Chaudoir's HIV stigma framework by describing the experiences of HIV-related stigma among people living with viral suppression in a context where HIV is well controlled and to investigate how these experiences correspond to the stigma mechanisms of the framework.

Design: Qualitative study using interviews and a framework approach to analysis.

Methods: People living with virally suppressed HIV in Sweden were recruited through an outpatient clinic and interviewed about their experiences of social aspects of living with HIV.

Stigma reduction interventions in people living with HIV to improve health-related quality of life.

As the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets for people living with HIV are increasingly being reached in many contexts, health-related quality of life, the so-called fourth 90, warrants special attention. HIV-related stigma and discrimination are major barriers for overall health-related quality of life despite impressive clinical and virological improvements in HIV care. There is a scarcity of well designed intervention studies that document stigma reduction in people living with HIV and few studies that specifically assess the effect of stigma on health-related quality of life.