StigmaScope
Explore Stigma in the U.S.
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Pennsylvania

Types of Stigma Interventions

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

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/

Healthy Choices


Study & Intervention Summary

The Healthy Choices intervention aims to reduce HIV-related stigma among youth living with HIV (YLWH) by addressing alcohol use and promoting antiretroviral medication adherence. It is delivered by community health workers in various settings over four face-to-face sessions using Motivational Enhancement Therapy, an adaptation of Motivational Interviewing. The intervention seeks to improve health outcomes and reduce stigma by promoting non-judgmental communication and adapting provider communication styles.


Stigma Type Addressed
Internalized, Perceived
Study Population - Recipients
General (PLHIV)
Intervention Level
Individual - Intrapersonal (Self)
Intervention Setting Addressed
Healthcare, Individual
Article Link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7979460/

Project Eban/Risk Reduction Intervention


Study & Intervention Summary

The aim of the article is to describe the development and pilot testing of Project Eban, a Risk Reduction Intervention for HIV-serodiscordant African American couples. The intervention aims to address stigma, psychological distress, barriers to condom use, and lack of self-protection skills in a culturally congruent and relationship-centered manner, enhancing communication and self-protection skills to reduce STI risks while maintaining relationship quality.


Stigma Type Addressed
Perceived, Enacted
Study Population - Recipients
General (PLHIV), General (At risk of HIV)
Intervention Level
Individual - Intrapersonal (Self), Interpersonal (Family/Friends)
Intervention Setting Addressed
Network (sexual, etc)
Article Link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2847346/

weCare


Study & Intervention Summary

The weCare intervention study is a social media intervention designed to increase HIV care engagement among young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender women living with HIV. It uses social media platforms to provide targeted messaging to improve care engagement and viral suppression among those newly diagnosed, not linked to care, out of care, or not virally suppressed.


Stigma Type Addressed
Internalized
Study Population - Recipients
General (PLHIV), MSM, Transgender/Gender Diverse Individuals
Intervention Level
Individual - Intrapersonal (Self)
Intervention Setting Addressed
Healthcare, Community (Faith-based organizations, barber shops, etc)
Article Link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8726574/

Structural Stigma

HIV CRIMINALIZATION LAWS

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

HATE CRIMES BY YEAR

Number of Hate Crimes
0
100
200
300
163
297
298
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?

9%

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

38%

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?

39%

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?

30%
Individual Item
Proportion

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

30%

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

44%
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?

20%
9.4%

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

37.5%

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

48.1%

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

38.5%

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?

30.3%

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?

30.6%

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

44.2%

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

27.6%

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?

20.5%

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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