Philly keep on loving logo
Philadelphia department of public health logo

Menu

HIV
Stigma

Get the facts and learn

how you can help fight it

Woman striking a pose with hand over head tinted green

What
is HIV Stigma?

HIV stigma refers to negative beliefs about HIV, as well as about people living with HIV, those at risk, or those seeking prevention services.

This can include:

  • Judging someone taking steps to prevent HIV
  • Believing that only certain people get HIV

HIV stigma can lead to discrimination, where people with HIV are treated differently than those without it.

Learn more about HIV discrimination here

Why Does HIV

Stigma

Matter?

Health and Wellness

HIV stigma can negatively affect the health and well-being of people with HIV or people who may be at risk for getting HIV, which can lead them to avoid:

Getting tested for HIV

Seeking HIV care or prevention services

Talking about HIV with sexual partners

Couple taking a selfie with bright color background

Why Does HIV

Stigma

Matter?

Couple taking a selfie with bright color background

Health and Wellness

HIV stigma can negatively affect the health and well-being of people with HIV or people who may be at risk for getting HIV, which can lead them to avoid:

Getting tested for HIV

Seeking HIV care or prevention services

Talking about HIV with sexual partners

Internalized Stigma

HIV stigma can impact emotional well-being and mental health. People with HIV may internalize negative beliefs about themselves. This can lead to feelings of shame, isolation, and despair.

According to the CDC, about 8 in 10 people living with HIV who are in care report experiencing internalized stigma.

HIV Stigma & Criminalization

HIV stigma can also contribute to HIV criminalization, affecting the rights of people living with HIV.

Learn more about HIV Criminalization here

Take Action

Against

HIV Stigma

HIV stigma harms individuals and communities, but you can help make a difference. Here are a few simple ways to combat stigma and create a more supportive world for everyone.

How to Reduce Internalized Stigma

If you’re living with HIV, here are a few ways to help reduce internalized stigma:

  • Talk to a counselor who can support you in managing negative thoughts about your HIV status
  • Find support through community organizations that aim to empower people and help them overcome any challenges of living with HIV
  • Take your HIV medicine as prescribed to get and stay virally suppressed, helping you stay healthy and reduce internalized stigma.

How You Can Make a Difference

  • Educate yourself and others about HIV to dispel myths and misconceptions.
  • Use inclusive, respectful language when
    talking about HIV and those affected by it.
  • Speak out against stigma when you see or hear it in conversations.
  • Support people living with HIV by listening without judgment and being empathetic.
  • Encourage HIV testing and prevention to normalize discussions and reduce fear.
Find Support Services Here

Want to Learn More about HIV?

Check out these other pages:

Newly Diagnosed

Learning you’re HIV positive can be scary but you’re not alone. We can walk you through what to do next. Learn more

Paying for HIV Care

Get HIV care and support regardless of your ability to pay. Learn more

Treatment

With treatment you can reduce the amount of HIV in your blood to levels so low it can’t even be detected. Learn more

Know your Rights

If you’re HIV positive you have the right to live a life free of discrimination. Find out how you’re protected. Learn more

Getting into Care

Know what to expect when you start care. Learn more

HIV Resource Finder

HIV Resource Finder

HIV Resource Finder

For additional HIV care and support services, including food delivery, help paying for medication, mental health support, housing, and more, try our resource tool.

Find HIV Care Resources

Close

Events

If you do not have a case manager, please reach out to the Health Information Helpline at 215-985-2437 to be assigned a case manager and/or to get help finding assistance.

Consejos de usar el buscador de recursos:

  • Buscador: Teclea una palabra o frase en la casilla de búsqueda. Si teclee más que una palabra, se buscará cada palabra individualmente. Por ejemplo: Buscar “alimentos” o “banco.” Frases incluidos en comillas mostrarán resultos para la frase. Ej. Busca “banco de alimentos.”
  • Filtro: Si la búsqueda produce demasiados resultados, aplica un filtro. Ejemplo: busca “banco de alimentos” Y selecciona “condado de Filadelfia.”
  • Orden de los resultados de búsqueda: resultados estan ordenado por relevancia.
  • Empezar de nuevo: selecciona “Reiniciar” para reiniciar la búsqueda y filtros.

Definiciones de términos

  • Administración de casos médicos, incluidos los servicios de adhesión al tratamiento

    Ayuda para facilitar las necesidades de atención médica y salud mental de personas con VIH, proporcionando además servicios de apoyo.

  • Asistencia financiera de emergencia

    Ayuda a corto plazo para cubrir necesidades de emergencia, incluidos los servicios públicos, la vivienda y el transporte.

  • Asistencia financiera de emergencia para farmacia

    Ayuda para el pago de medicamentos.

  • Atención ambulatoria por consumo de sustancias

    Tratamiento por el consumo de drogas o alcohol en un consultorio u oficina clínica.

  • Atención de salud oral

    Cuidado dental.

  • Banco de alimentos / Comidas a domicilio

    Ayuda para obtener alimentos, ya sea en un banco de alimentos o con entrega a domicilio.

  • Educación en salud / Reducción de Riesgos

    Información y educación sobre cómo se transmite el VIH y cómo atender sus necesidades de salud.

  • Especialidad en adolescentes edades de 12 a 24

    Esta agencia se idenfica como proveedor de servicios para personas de 12 a 24 años de edad. La agencia puede proveer servicios para gente de otras edades.

  • Línea directa del Centro de excelencia PEP

    Línea directa para obtener medicamentos que previenen el VIH después de una exposición.

  • Prueba del VIH

    Prueba de VIH disponibles en un servicio de atención sin cita previa.

  • Servicios de atención primaria

    Servicios médicos de atención primaria disponibles independientemente de la capacidad de pago, el estado del seguro o el estatus migratorio.

  • Servicios de atención y apoyo para el VIH

  • Servicios de prevención de sobredosis

    Servicios para prevenir la transmisión del VIH relacionada con el consumo de sustancias.

  • Servicios de prevención del VIH

  • Servicios de reducción de daños

    Servicios para prevenir la transmisión del VIH y las sobredosis. Los servicios incluyen el intercambio de jeringas usadas por nuevas, con el fin de prevenir el VIH y otras enfermedades transmisibles.

  • Servicios de salud ambulatorios / externos

    Atención médica para el VIH en consultorios u oficinas clínicas.

  • Servicios de salud mental

    Un consejero u otro profesional que lo ayude a abordar problemas de salud mental.

  • Servicios de salud sexual sin cita previa

    Atención en salud sexual, pruebas de STI y pruebas de VIH en una clínica de atención sin cita previa.

  • Servicios legales

    Ayuda por parte de un abogado.

  • Servicios lingüísticos

    Traducción de idiomas para el médico u otro proveedor de servicios.

  • TelePrEP

    Acceso en línea y por teléfono a medicamentos para prevenir el VIH.

  • Terapia de nutrición médica

    Asesoramiento de un profesional autorizado sobre qué comer según las necesidades médicas específicas y ayuda para obtener alimentos o suplementos nutricionales (como Ensure).

  • Transporte médico

    Transporte hacia citas médicas.

  • Vivienda de transición

    Ayuda para el pago de la vivienda destinada a personas con VIH que están sin hogar o enfrentan inseguridad habitacional.

  • Vivienda Ryan White

    Ayuda a corto plazo para pagar la renta.

Term Definitions

  • Adolescent Specialty Age 12 to 24

    Agency has identified itself as a provider of services specifically for the age group from 12 to 24. The agency may also provide services for other age groups.

  • Emergency Financial Assistance

    Short-term help paying for an emergency need, including utilities, housing, and transportation.

  • Emergency Financial Assistance Pharmacy

    Help with paying for medication.

  • Food Bank/Home Delivered Meals

    Help with getting food, either at a food bank or delivered to your home.

  • Harm Reduction Services

    Services to prevent HIV transmission and overdose. Services include exchange of used syringes for new syringes in order to prevent HIV and other communicable diseases.

  • Health Education/Risk Reduction

    Information and education on how HIV is transmitted and how to take care of your health needs.

  • HIV Care and Support Services

    These are services that are sometimes called “Ryan White Services.” They are services to provide HIV care or other assistance to individuals with HIV.

  • HIV Prevention Services

    These services are meant to help prevent HIV transmission. Some services are specific to people who are HIV negative, and other services are available regardless of HIV status.

  • HIV Testing

    HIV testing in a walk-in setting.

  • Legal Services

    Help from a lawyer.

  • Medical Case Management, including Treatment Adherence Services

    Help facilitating healthcare and mental health needs for people with HIV while providing support services.

  • Medical Nutrition Therapy

    Advice from a licensed professional about what to eat for a specific medical need and help getting food or nutritional supplements (such as Ensure).

  • Medical Transportation

    Transportation to medical appointments.

  • Mental Health Services

    A counselor or other professional to help deal with a mental health problem.

  • Oral Health Care

    Dental care.

  • Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services

    HIV medical care in an office or clinic.

  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Non-Occupational Exposures (PEP COE)

    A hotline to find medicine to prevent HIV after an exposure.

  • Primary Care Services

    Primary medical care services available regardless of ability to pay, insurance status, or immigration status.

  • Ryan White Housing

    Short-term help paying rent.

  • Substance Abuse Outpatient Care

    Drug or alcohol treatment at an office or clinic.

  • TelePrEP

    Online and phone access to medicine to prevent HIV.

  • Transitional Housing

    Help paying for housing for people with HIV experiencing homeless or with housing insecurity.

  • Walk-In Sexual Health Services

    Sexual health, STI testing, and HIV testing in a walk-in clinic.

Tips for searching this Resource Finder:

  • Search: Type a word or phrase into the keyword search field to view results. Multiple words entered into the field will be searched independently. Example: Search for: “food” or “bank”. Phrases enclosed with quotation marks will show results for the whole phrase. Ex. Search for “food bank”.
  • Filter: If a keyword search returns too many results, refine it by adding filter terms using the dropdown pickers and checkboxes. Example: Search for “food bank” AND Philadelphia county.
  • Order of results: Results are listed by relevance.
  • Start over: Reset the search and filters by pressing the Reset button.