About the project
This dashboard is a collaborative effort by the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, AIDSVu, and Signal development teams. The dashboard aims to visually represent stigma-related data for communities impacted by HIV and to demonstrate areas in which progress can be made to mitigate stigmas across different geographic regions.
The goal of this dashboard is to address the disconnect between practice and priorities in HIV epidemic control by systematically collecting stigma data in partnership with health departments and community partners and visualizing these data and the modeled effects of stigma mitigation on key HIV outcomes. By monitoring and visualizing stigma, individuals, communities, and organizations may assess what types of stigma are most prevalent, identify gaps where stigma mitigation efforts may be prioritized, and possible effects on key Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) pillars if significant stigma reduction is achieved.
Stigma refers to negative or discriminatory beliefs directed toward a particular attribute or characteristic of an individual. HIV-related stigma specifically targets individuals living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. HIV-related stigma manifests through discrimination, negative attitudes, and social exclusion, creating barriers to testing, treatment adherence, and care engagement. Stigma remains a significant barrier to public health efforts, undermining the impact of HIV prevention, treatment, and care initiatives.
The three main elements of the dashboard include 1) a national map displaying levels of three different types of stigma: general social stigma, anticipated healthcare stigma, and stigma from family and friends, 2) State-specific pages that contain additional information on laws which criminalize HIV transmission, penalties to people who are convicted of committing hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, and the incidence of overall hate crimes committed in 2021, 2022, or 2023, and 3) data that has been structured as model inputs for a system dynamics model. This includes defined stocks, flows, and auxiliary variables that quantify the relationships between stigma, mental health, and engagement in HIV services across the HIV care continuum and its ecosystem.
The data shown in both the heatmap and in the HIV Service Indicators is from the American Men’s Internet Survey (AMIS), a cross-sectional, annual online survey occurring annually since 2013. AMIS aims to capture the demographics, sexual behavior, HIV and STI testing and diagnosis history, PrEP knowledge, interest, and use, use of HIV prevention services, and experiences of stigma of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in the United States. By understanding and monitoring trends in HIV risk behavior, use of HIV testing services, and access to prevention services, we hope to improve public health services and mitigate stigma for GBMSM. By visualizing stigma experiences by GBMSM at the state level in family, social, and healthcare settings, we aim to further illuminate areas in which individuals, communities, and organizations can reflect on and work to reduce the occurrence and impact of stigma.