| Title | The Influence of Stigma and Discrimination on Female Sex Workers' Access to HIV Services in St. Petersburg, Russia. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2013 |
| Authors | King, Elizabeth J., Suzanne Maman, Michael J. Bowling, Kathryn E. Moracco, and Viktoria Dudina |
| Journal | AIDS and behavior |
| Date Published | 2013 Mar 23 |
| ISSN | 1573-3254 |
| Abstract | Stigma associated with HIV and risk behaviors is known to be a barrier to health care access for many populations. Less is known about female sex workers (FSW) in Russia, a population that is especially vulnerable to HIV-infection, and yet hard-to-reach for service providers. We administered a questionnaire to 139 FSW to better understand how stigma and discrimination influence HIV service utilization. Logistic regression analysis indicated that HIV-related stigma is negatively associated with uptake of HIV testing, while sex work-related stigma is positively associated with HIV testing. HIV-positive FSW are more likely than HIV-negative FSW to experience discrimination in health care settings. While decreasing societal stigma should be a long-term goal, programs that foster inclusion of marginalized populations in Russian health care settings are urgently needed. |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.midw.2013.01.016 |
| Alternate Journal | AIDS Behav |
