TY - JOUR
T1 - A qualitative study of resilience among transgender women living with HIV in response to stigma in healthcare
AU - Lacombe-Duncan, Ashley
AU - Logie, Carmen H.
AU - Newman, Peter A.
AU - Bauer, Greta R.
AU - Kazemi, Mina
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2020/8/2
Y1 - 2020/8/2
N2 - Stigma in healthcare is a pervasive adversity experienced by transgender (trans) women living with HIV (WLWH). Resilience is described as individual and collective processes of navigating and overcoming adversity. This qualitative study sought to explore resilience exhibited by trans WLWH in response to stigma in healthcare. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted in 2017–2018 with a purposive sample of trans WLWH (n = 11) participating in a community-based cohort study. Framework analysis was used to identify key themes, patterns within themes between participants, and patterns across themes among participants. Three overarching themes were identified. (1) Resilient responses to stigma in healthcare. Participants exhibited resilient personality traits and processes of resistance and transformation in response to stigma. (2) Motivations, benefits, and consequences of responding. Participants experienced self and altruistic driven motivations. Benefits included increased self-worth, economic resources, and leverage for better healthcare treatment, and reduced internalized stigma and isolation. Negative consequences included defensive provider reactions, being further stereotyped, and decreased physical and mental health. (3) Recommendations for systemic change. Participants recommended trans inclusion in service delivery, development, and management, as well as increased provider education. Providers can leverage trans WLWH's personal and collective strengths while working in solidarity to reduce stigma in healthcare settings.
AB - Stigma in healthcare is a pervasive adversity experienced by transgender (trans) women living with HIV (WLWH). Resilience is described as individual and collective processes of navigating and overcoming adversity. This qualitative study sought to explore resilience exhibited by trans WLWH in response to stigma in healthcare. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted in 2017–2018 with a purposive sample of trans WLWH (n = 11) participating in a community-based cohort study. Framework analysis was used to identify key themes, patterns within themes between participants, and patterns across themes among participants. Three overarching themes were identified. (1) Resilient responses to stigma in healthcare. Participants exhibited resilient personality traits and processes of resistance and transformation in response to stigma. (2) Motivations, benefits, and consequences of responding. Participants experienced self and altruistic driven motivations. Benefits included increased self-worth, economic resources, and leverage for better healthcare treatment, and reduced internalized stigma and isolation. Negative consequences included defensive provider reactions, being further stereotyped, and decreased physical and mental health. (3) Recommendations for systemic change. Participants recommended trans inclusion in service delivery, development, and management, as well as increased provider education. Providers can leverage trans WLWH's personal and collective strengths while working in solidarity to reduce stigma in healthcare settings.
KW - Access to care
KW - HIV/AIDS
KW - qualitative
KW - resilience
KW - transgender women
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85079697408
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85079697408#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1080/09540121.2020.1728212
DO - 10.1080/09540121.2020.1728212
M3 - Article
C2 - 32070113
AN - SCOPUS:85079697408
SN - 0954-0121
VL - 32
SP - 1008
EP - 1013
JO - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
IS - 8
ER -