2075. Assessing HIV prevention knowledge and HIV stigma in an urban midwestern community


 
 
 Stigma and discrimination within communities remain major barriers to HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Prior studies have focused on HIV stigma as perceived by individuals with HIV and among HIV care providers. Our study aims to assess knowledge of HIV prevention, the prevalence of certain misconceptions about HIV, and internal and external HIV-associated stigma within our community.
 
 
 
 We surveyed patients at three sexually transmitted infection clinics and employees at a community organization and the safety-net hospital in Cleveland, OH. The participants’ involvement was voluntary and anonymous. Participants were asked questions regarding demographics, sexual behavior, HIV prevention, and HIV stigma.
 
 
 
 Among 262 patients surveyed, 19.0% were ≤ 24 years old, 51.5% were male, 85.2% identified as Black, and 45.6% completed high school. Among 137 employees surveyed, 4.0% were ≤ 24 years old, 21.2% were male, 15.6% identified as Black, and 43.1% graduated college/university. Only 98 (38.7%) of patients knew of the concept “Undetectable equals Untransmissible” compared with 79 (59.0%) of employees (p< 0.001). Few patients and employees thought HIV was a punishment sent from God for sinful acts (3.2% vs. 2.0%, p=0.32) but many patients thought HIV was a man-made virus (26.0% vs. 5.3%, p< 0.001) and that there was a known cure for HIV (42.5% vs. 18.7%, p< 0.001). Almost half of participants in both groups endorsed that others talk badly about people with HIV (40.2% vs. 42.5%, p=0.66), and while only 8.4% and 3.7% of patients and employees, respectively, reported they would be ashamed if one of their family members had HIV, 42.4% and 60.9% (p=0.009) of patients and employees, respectively, reported that they would not want their neighbors/coworkers to know that they had HIV.
 
 
 
 While internal stigma related to HIV appears to be low, expected external stigma remains high. Suspicions that HIV is a man-made virus and that a cure exists but withheld from certain communities were prevalent among the community. Further studies can help elucidate the underlying reasons that lead to persistent expected external stigma and suspicions associated with HIV.
 
 
 
 All Authors: No reported disclosures.
