Wednesday, September 5, 2007

One-fourth Of HIV Patients Believe Their Doctors Stigmatize Them

Even the perception that physicians are stigmatizing patients for carrying the virus that causes AIDS can discourage these individuals from seeking proper medical care, according to a new UCLA study.

The study, published in the August issue of the peer-reviewed journal AIDS Patient Care and STDs, found that up to one-fourth of patients surveyed in the Los Angeles area reported feeling stigmatized by their health care providers. This perception was also linked to low access to care among these patients, a large proportion of whom are low-income and minorities
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