Perceived HIV Treatment Norms Modify the Association Between HIV-Related Stigma and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Persons Living with HIV in Baltimore, Maryland

Abby E. Rudolph, Robert S. Dembo, Karin Tobin, Carl Latkin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with reduced HIV-related morbidity/mortality and ongoing transmission; however, the extent to which this association is modified by perceived HIV treatment norms is unknown. 270 PLWH completed a survey to assess demographics, risk behaviors, stigma, ART adherence, and perceived HIV treatment norms (Baltimore, 2014–2017). We used modified Poisson regression to examine effect modification by perceived HIV treatment norms. The association between HIV-related stigma and ART adherence was modified by perceived HIV treatment norms. Among individuals who perceived that friends/family were sub-optimally adherent, HIV-related stigma was negatively associated with ART adherence (Adjusted Risk Ratio [ARR] = 0.36; 95%CI 0.15–0.87). Among those who perceived optimal adherence among friends/family, the relationship between HIV-related stigma and ART adherence was not statistically significant (ARR = 1.07; 95%CI 0.65–1.76). Interventions to improve ART adherence among those who are sub-optimally adherent could focus on increasing perceptions of ART adherence among their friends/family.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)537-548
Number of pages12
JournalAIDS and behavior
Volume26
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2022

Keywords

  • Antiretroviral treatment adherence
  • Effect modification
  • HIV
  • HIV-related stigma
  • Social norms

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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