Abstract

From victim to denier: Romanian MSMs' strategies to cope with HIV - implications on support interventions

T. Kovacs, T. Ban

PSI Romania, Programs, Bucharest, Romania

Background: Little research has documented lifestyle changes among HIV infected men who have sex with men and how double stigma impacts their wellbeing. For PSI/Romania, implementer of peer support activities for HIV-positive MSM, it is essential to understand the perception of stigma and the associated coping mechanisms, that can be harmful for them and for negative and assumed negative MSM.
Methods: PSI Romania conducted a qualitative study involving face-to-face interviews with 17 HIV-positive MSM split between different age groups, infection time spans, relationship status and from urban/rural areas. Data was collected using in-depth spoken narrative interviews, to assess the perception of stigma and the main coping mechanisms.
Results: Findings show HIV-positive MSM face stigma from the society as a whole and also from other MSM (double stigma). The researchers identified four archetypes within the target group: The Victim, The Condemned, The Denialist and The Fighter.


[subsegm MSM living with HIV]


Sero-conversion brings fundamental changes in self-perception, social life and sexual behaviors, adding a “moral” response to the pressure for unsafe sex. Strategies for status disclosure are different among these subgroups, depending on the expectations from the addressee, the relationship type with the addressee, the anticipated disclosure outcome, etc.
Conclusions: The findings are used to refine activities to meet the needs of all four categories of HIV-positive MSM, while working to address HIV-related stigma that often leads them to self-imposed isolation. The peer support network for MSM living with HIV can only be supported properly or expected to develop if these categories are considered.
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