StigmaScope
Explore Stigma in the U.S.
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Louisiana

Types of Stigma Interventions

The following stigma-related interventions were conducted in this state.

Community Health Worker curriculum intervention by Rajabiun et al. (2021)


Study & Intervention Summary

The intervention involves a comprehensive training program for Community Health Workers (CHWs) and their supervisors, focusing on HIV-specific content and core competency training. The program was grounded in the Popular Education model and the CHW Core Consensus Competency (C3) framework, with 80 hours of training for CHWs and 20 hours for supervisors, delivered over 1.5 years through in-person and virtual sessions. The aim was to improve CHW integration into the HIV care team, enhance skills and confidence, and improve health outcomes for people with HIV.


Stigma Type Addressed
Internalized, Anticipated, Perceived, Enacted
Study Population - Recipients
Healthcare Providers/Staff
Intervention Level
Organizational (healthcare, school)
Intervention Setting Addressed
Healthcare
Article Link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8362906/

Connect-to-Protect (C2P) (community-level outcomes)


Study & Intervention Summary

The intervention, Connect to Protect (C2P), aims to advance structural changes to reduce adolescents' risk of HIV exposure by improving access to health information, condoms, and HIV testing. It involves community coalitions led by adolescent medicine clinical units and technical support staff, with objectives such as eliminating parental consent requirements for HIV testing, increasing access to adolescent-friendly HIV testing, and creating safe zones for at-risk adolescents. The intervention assesses the impact of these changes on health behaviors through annual data collection from adolescents over a 4 to 5 year period.


Stigma Type Addressed
Anticipated
Study Population - Recipients
General (At risk of HIV), MSM, Other
Intervention Level
Organizational (healthcare, school), Structural (Policy)
Intervention Setting Addressed
Community (Faith-based organizations, barber shops, etc)
Article Link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5880542/

HIV Engage


Study & Intervention Summary

The study investigates the efficacy of Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapy (ABBT) in improving retention in HIV care for treatment-naive patients. The HIV Engage intervention consists of two 20-30 minute ABBT sessions delivered in-person or remotely, aiming to promote acceptance and reduce experiential avoidance to enhance retention and reduce psychological distress. The study is a randomized controlled trial comparing ABBT to an attention-matched HIV education control condition.


Stigma Type Addressed
Perceived
Study Population - Recipients
General (PLHIV)
Intervention Level
Individual - Intrapersonal (Self), Interpersonal (Family/Friends)
Intervention Setting Addressed
Network (sexual, etc)
Article Link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8453091/

Project PrIDE


Study & Intervention Summary

The aim of the article is to evaluate the effectiveness of Project PrIDE, a CDC-funded initiative aimed at expanding PrEP services for men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender persons through health department programs. The intervention involved identifying priority populations, referring them to PrEP providers, and increasing provider capacity, with a focus on health equity and addressing barriers to PrEP use.


Stigma Type Addressed
Perceived
Study Population - Recipients
MSM, Transgender/Gender Diverse Individuals, Healthcare Providers/Staff
Intervention Level
Individual - Intrapersonal (Self), Community, Organizational (healthcare, school)
Intervention Setting Addressed
Community (Faith-based organizations, barber shops, etc)
Article Link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9730169/

SPARK!


Study & Intervention Summary

The SPARK! program is a small grants and capacity-building initiative funded by Gilead COMPASS to address HIV-related stigma in the Southern U.S. It provided grants to 47 CBOs to implement tailored stigma-reduction programs, including traditional media campaigns, social media campaigns, workshops and trainings, and supportive services. The program targeted primarily LGBTQ+ people of color, people living with HIV, and African American populations, and was implemented from 2018 to 2021 across nine Southern states. The aim was to reduce HIV-related stigma and achieve positive outcomes with small funding amounts.


Stigma Type Addressed
Perceived
Study Population - Recipients
General (PLHIV), Other
Intervention Level
Individual - Intrapersonal (Self), Community
Intervention Setting Addressed
Community (Faith-based organizations, barber shops, etc), Individual
Article Link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38661918/

The Gilead COMPASS (COMmitment to Partnership in Addressing HIV/AIDS in Southern States) Initiative


Study & Intervention Summary

The study examines the practices of community-based organizations (CBOs) in addressing HIV-related stigma in the Deep South. The Gilead COMPASS Initiative is a key intervention supporting CBOs to reduce stigma. The study identifies gaps in current efforts and suggests scaling up services, particularly in rural areas, through collaborations and innovative delivery methods like telehealth and mHealth.


Stigma Type Addressed
Not Specified
Study Population - Recipients
General (PLHIV)
Intervention Level
Individual - Intrapersonal (Self), Interpersonal (Family/Friends)
Intervention Setting Addressed
Network (sexual, etc), Individual
Article Link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8758532/

Structural Stigma

HIV CRIMINALIZATION LAWS

yes
As of 2025, Yes: Louisiana has a HIV criminalization law and sentencing enhancements or sex offender registration (or both) or HIV criminalization law only

HATE CRIME DATA COLLECTION LAW

yes
As of 2025, Yes: Louisiana requires hate crime data collection

HATE CRIMES BY YEAR

Number of Hate Crimes
0
50
100
150
200
150
75
59
2021
2022
2023
Years
Data view:
Individual Item
Proportion

Have you ever felt that the police refused to protect you because you have sex with men?

12%

Have you ever felt scared to be in public places because you have sex with men?

32%

Have you ever been verbally harassed and felt it was because you have sex with men?

48%

Has someone ever physically hurt you (pushed, shoved, slapped, hit, kicked, choked or otherwise physically hurt you), and do you believe any of these experiences of physical violence was/were related to the fact that you have sex with men?

44%

Have you ever been forced to have sex when you did not want to (by forced, we mean physically forced or coerced to have sex, or penetrated with an object), and do you believe any of these experiences of sexual violence were related to the fact that you have sex with men?

33%
Individual Item
Proportion

Have you ever felt excluded from family activities because you have sex with men?

35%

Have you ever felt that family members have made discriminatory remarks or gossiped about you because you have sex with men?

56%
Individual Item
Proportion

Have you ever felt afraid to go to health care services because you worry someone may treat you poorly because you have sex with men?

28%

Have you ever avoided going to health care services because you worry someone may treat you poorly because you have sex with men?

24%
12.1%

Have you ever felt that the police refused to protect you because you have sex with men?

32.3%

Have you ever felt scared to be in public places because you have sex with men?

47.7%

Have you ever been verbally harassed and felt it was because you have sex with men?

43.8%

Has someone ever physically hurt you (pushed, shoved, slapped, hit, kicked, choked or otherwise physically hurt you), and do you believe any of these experiences of physical violence was/were related to the fact that you have sex with men?

33%

Have you ever been forced to have sex when you did not want to (by forced, we mean physically forced or coerced to have sex, or penetrated with an object), and do you believe any of these experiences of sexual violence were related to the fact that you have sex with men?

34.8%

Have you ever felt excluded from family activities because you have sex with men?

55.7%

Have you ever felt that family members have made discriminatory remarks or gossiped about you because you have sex with men?

28.2%

Have you ever felt afraid to go to health care services because you worry someone may treat you poorly because you have sex with men?

24%

Have you ever avoided going to health care services because you worry someone may treat you poorly because you have sex with men?

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