Uncharted stigma: a descriptive report exploring HIV- and cancer-related stigma among cancer survivors living with HIV

PURPOSE: Caribbean countries are among the most heavily burdened by both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cancer, with prevalent stigmatization of both illnesses. This novel pilot study responds to the need to examine and understand both cancer- and HIV-related stigma among cancer survivors living with HIV (CSLWH). METHODS: Data were collected via quantitative surveys and administered in person in Trinidad and Tobago. The survey used in this pilot study included an HIV stigma scale and a cancer stigma scale. Descriptive analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0.0. RESULTS: For most stigma items, HIV stigma is higher than cancer stigma, especially for personal and relational self-stigma: 95% vs 28% of participants reported that they feel telling someone is risky for their HIV status and cancer status, respectively. HIV-related societal/community stigma is also higher than cancer-related stigma: 87% of participants reported that they feel most people believe a person who has HIV is dirty, vs 18% reported the same stigma for cancer. Most CSLWH believed HIV is more stigmatized than cancer by the community/society (90.6% vs 9.4%) and family/friends (93.8% vs 6.3%). However, cancer-related stigma exists in health outcome beliefs: 57% of CSLWH believed that once having cancer, a person will never be 'normal' again, while 45% of CSLWH felt the same for HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary findings suggest greater HIV-related personal and relational self-stigma and societal/community stigma compared to cancer-related stigma among CSLWH. However, more cancer-related health outcome beliefs are stigmatizing compared to HIV-related stigma among CSLWH.