UK Stigma Index 2014
Research type
Research Study
Full title
UK Stigma Index 2014
IRAS ID
160361
Contact name
Irina Lut
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Public Health England
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Stigma is a social process whereby marginalised and disempowered groups are shamed and isolated because they are defined as unacceptable. Often, those subject to stigma are concerned about being insulted, excluded or harmed and may suffer in silence rather than getting the help that they need. For people with HIV, stigma is often compounded by discrimination which ultimately means they are treated as being less than equal members of society. Stigma underpins the imbalance of power that many people with HIV are subjected to in many everyday situations.
Nearly half of participants in an earlier version of the Stigma Index carried out in the UK in 2009 reported feeling of shame or guilt, and almost two thirds reported having low self-esteem. The UK People Living with HIV Stigma Index 2014 is a large scale survey of people living with HIV in the UK which aims to build on and update these estimates by identifying the extent to which people with HIV in the UK experience stigma and discrimination related to HIV and to describe how this affects their daily lives. We aim to collect responses from 3859 participants, representing 5% of the estimated number of PLHIV receiving NHS care in the UK
by conducting an anonymous internet-based survey of people attending UK HIV clinics or HIV-support groups. The Stigma Index initiative is the product of a partnership between two international networks of people living with HIV (GNP+ and ICW), IPPF and UNAIDS. People living with HIV have contributed to the study design and will continue to be involved at all stages of the work.Data from this study will provide information on the burden and types of stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV in the UK and provide specific information on the situations in which stigma and discrimination were experienced to inform interventions to reduce stigma for people living with HIV.
REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1983
Date of REC Opinion
15 Dec 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion