PERCEPTIONS OF STIGMA IN WOMEN INFECTED WITH HIV

This qualitative focus group study explored perceptions of stigma in H IV-seropositive women. The sample included 19 HIV-positive women who p articipated in one of four focus groups sessions. Participants were as ked to talk about and describe their perceptions of how others think a bout and respond to them and other HIV-infefted individuals. Content a nalysis was used to code the data and identify participant perceptions . Four themes representing distinctly different perceptions of stigma were identified: distancing, overgeneralizing stereotypes, social disc omfort, and pity. The implications of the findings for intervention an d future research are discussed.