Results of a workshop intervention trial to reduce HIV and intersectional stigma among sexual and gender minorities and healthcare workers in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

Eliminating stigmas that harm sexual and gender minorities (SGM) with HIV is necessary to end the epidemic; however, few validated stigma-reducing interventions for healthcare settings exist, and even fewer have been evaluated in Spanish-speaking contexts. Finding Respect and Ending Stigma around HIV (FRESH) is a healthcare setting stigma-reduction intervention that was adapted and tested to address HIV and intersectional stigmas that harm SGM with HIV in the Dominican Republic. Herein, we detail the intervention adaptation process and present feasibility, acceptability, and pre-post preliminary effectiveness results ascertained via paired t-tests. Twenty healthcare workers at HIV clinics and sixteen SGM with HIV received the intervention (N = 36). Among healthcare workers, intervention receipt was associated with reductions in negative opinions about people with HIV (PWH, p = 0.01); among SGM PWH there were significant improvements in healthcare empowerment (p < 0.05) and awareness of clinic-based stigma (p < 0.05). Nearly 100% rated the intervention, content, or quality of information as excellent; 95% reported they would recommend FRESH to friends or colleagues. All participants felt the intervention helped them to "better understand and deal with stigma." The Spanish-language FRESH intervention is a promising stigma-reducing intervention for SGM PWH and healthcare workers. Future directions include intervention full-scale testing in Spanish-language settings.