Reducing stigma towards people living with HIV and people who inject drugs

Despite extensive evidence regarding the negative effects of stigma experienced by people living with HIV (PLHIV) and people who inject drugs within health care settings, comparatively little evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of initiatives to reduce this stigma.

Highlights

• Brief interventions based on social norms theory demonstrated immediate improvements in health care workers’ attitudes towards people who inject drugs and their perceptions of their colleagues’ attitudes towards people living with HIV and people who inject drugs.
• Improved attitudes towards people living with HIV and people who inject drugs predicted improvements in behavioural intentions.
• Improved perceptions of colleagues’ attitudes towards people living with HIV and people who inject drugs predicted improved behavioural intentions, often more strongly than personal attitude changes.
• Social norms interventions may contribute to broader stigma reduction initiatives within health care settings.