Public health professionals, social workers in New Orleans combat stigma associated with HIV

16th December 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Arielle Robinson
Contributing Writer

(Veritenews.org) — A group of public health experts, social workers and advocates who work with people and communities affected by HIV in New Orleans gathered at CrescentCare’s St. Roch location on Thursday (Dec. 5) to lead a workshop about combatting stigmas associated with the virus. The workshop, titled “Beyond Stigma,” was part of a week of events put on by the city of New Orleans’ “Bounce to Zero” initiative, which aims to reduce new HIV cases by 95% by 2030.

In 2021, Louisiana had the third highest HIV diagnosis rate in the United States among states, and the New Orleans region had the sixth highest HIV diagnosis rate among large U.S. metro areas, according to a 2023 report from the Louisiana Department of Health.

Medical and health care professionals as well as community members gathered to learn from presenters involved in various fields – public health and social work among them – on the different forms of HIV stigma that exist, the ways they manifest in people’s lives and how to fight stigma.

Morris Singletary, the founder of the Atlanta-based HIV education nonprofit The Pozitive2Positive Initiative and one of the panelists at the event, told Verite News that one of the main problems with treating and preventing new cases of HIV is that the disease is stigmatized. HIV is a treatable disease and people who test positive for the virus can live full, normal lives if it is caught early enough, he said.

“The people who do have it, if they take their pills and are undetectable, they can’t transmit it,” Singletary said.

The workshop was hosted by CrescentCare, The Pozitive2Postive Initiative, Gilead Sciences, Odyssey House Louisiana, nolaHYPE and the Violence Prevention Institute of Tulane University.

Kieta Mutepfa, a social worker from Gilead Sciences, told the audience that the ultimate goal of her work is to end the HIV epidemic.

“The epidemic of fear, stigmatization and discrimination has undermined the ability of individuals, families and societies to protect themselves and provide support and resources to those affected [by HIV]. This hinders, in no small way, efforts at stemming the epidemic,” Mutepfa said during the workshop.

Mutepfa said there is shame around seeking HIV treatment. For instance, some people may feel judged by health care providers as being sexually promiscuous when they try to get treatment. 

If a person feels stigmatized by others, it can affect their mental health in a negative way as well as prevent them from getting diagnosed, she said. Therefore, she said, health care providers must provide a welcoming environment where people can feel safe to talk about HIV.

Another focus of Thursday’s training was the language people use when describing people and communities dealing with HIV.

Grace Johnson, a public health worker at Odyssey House Louisiana, discussed the importance of using inclusive, person-first language when treating people living with HIV.

In an exercise at the end of her presentation, she challenged attendees to either reframe or completely do away with harmful language used to describe people with HIV. For example, she suggested that people say “people living with HIV” rather than “HIV patients” and to eliminate language that shames people’s sexual behavior, such as the term “slut.”

Johnson said that even the most up-to-date providers can still take the time to inform and educate themselves on the proper terminology used to discuss HIV with their patients.

“If it’s as simple as just having a fact sheet or something near them or on their phone, at least they can always refer back to it,” Johnson said.

Manny Ocasio, director of community engagement and behavioral research at the public health research and clinic nolaHYPE, focused his presentation on engaging LGBTQ+ youth in HIV prevention and education.

He said that some people may not trust a provider if they are not part of the queer community. Social media can be an easy and straightforward way to engage young people about HIV education, he added.

After the workshop ended, CrescentCare’s Glenis Scott elaborated on HIV stigma in New Orleans.

He said that Louisiana’s history of Catholicism in schools and its promotion of abstinence as sexual education has contributed to stigmatization of sex, STIs, HIV and more.

Scott, who is Black, also said that homophobia within the Black community has also been a barrier to Black people in New Orleans getting the HIV treatment they need.

“I hear that more often,” Scott said. “They may see the materials that we’re talking to them about, and they’re like, ‘Oh, I’m not gay or I’m not bi or lesbian, so that’s not me.’”

Singletary said that storytelling can help destigmatize HIV.

“Black people are orators, we’re known to tell some amazing stories,” he said. “If we share our stories, then we can get back to healing our community.”

This article originally published in the December 16, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.

Tags:  HIV, Public Health, Social Workers