Current Status of HIV-Stigma Reduction Interventions: A Need to Address the Root Causes at Multiple Levels

Stigma and discrimination remain critical determinants of HIV inequities among people with and vulnerable to HIV (PWAVH), as they are key drivers of HIV outcomes by restricting access to health-enabling resources.

As the preponderance of HIV-related stigma interventions have mostly targeted individual and/or interpersonal psycho-social spheres, there remains a critical need for increased HIV-related stigma interventions at community and structural levels concurrently. Structural and multi-level HIV stigma interventions, though challenging to implement and underfunded, may be more effective in reducing HIV-related stigma by targeting underlying systemic issues perpetuating inequitable access to social determinants of health. Eradicating HIV and overcoming HIV-related stigma will require systemic changes intended to pursue health equity. This commentary emphasizes expanding our focus from developing interventions that not only reduce the ramifications of stigma but also work to eradicate stigma through multi-level efforts, including structural change.