Stigma, Depression, and Substance Use Problems Among Perinatally HIV-Infected Youth in South Africa

A growing population of youth who acquired HIV from their mothers are surviving into adulthood. This group is unique in that they experience both internalized stigma (due to their HIV status) and associative stigma (due to their mothers’ HIV status). Results of a cross-sectional survey of 250 perinatally HIV-infected South African youth suggests that internalized stigma is associated with greater risk of depression, and associative stigma is associated with greater risk of depression and substance use problems. Interventions currently focus on internalized stigma; this study highlights the importance of also addressing associative stigma to improve outcomes among perinatally HIV-infected youth.