HIV stigma research highlights barriers to care in Wayne County communities
By Tanya Poovathigal
Bachelor’s student in Public Health Sciences
Roughly one in four people living with HIV delay starting treatment due to stigma, according to a recent collaborative study between Unified HIV Health and Beyond and the University of Michigan. This striking finding comes from the Stigma Project, which interviewed 76 people living with HIV in Wayne County, Michigan.
As an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan School of Public Health working on the project, I've helped translate these crucial research findings into accessible community resources that highlight how stigma continues to affect health decisions, provider interactions, and quality of life for those living with HIV.
The study revealed that many participants delayed care because they weren't ready to deal with their diagnosis, while others worried about healthcare workers treating them poorly or having their status disclosed without consent.
Though support systems have improved over the years, stigma remains a significant barrier to healthcare access and overall well-being for many individuals living with HIV in Wayne County. The Stigma Project aims to address these barriers by making research findings accessible to those who need them most.
Communicating complex research
A major challenge in public health is conveying complex research in a digestible way. My role involved creating an easy-to-read brochure for healthcare settings that community members could use to better understand key insights and available resources.
To achieve this, I focused on simplifying language, incorporating engaging visuals, and organizing information in an accessible format. The brochure highlights the impact of stigma on health decisions, signs of progress within community support systems, and firsthand experiences with stigma.
By incorporating the health equity work of my mentors, Rivet Amico and Peter Slutzker, the brochure helps inform and empower people living with HIV in Wayne County to seek needed support.
Bridging research and community impact
This experience taught me the importance of communicating research findings and the responsibility public health professionals have in making information accessible. Research shouldn't remain confined to academic journals but should be shared through practical resources that directly benefit the communities being studied.
Hearing people's personal accounts about stigma and resilience demonstrated how crucial it is to center real experiences in public health efforts. This project has reinforced my commitment to combining research with community outreach, ensuring that findings reach those who can benefit most and help reduce barriers faced by people living with HIV.
Moving forward, I plan to continue working under Dr. Amico in the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity throughout my undergraduate years, hoping to make a real-world impact in public health.
About the author
Tanya Poovathigal is a sophomore at the University of Michigan, majoring in Public Health. She is actively involved in health behavior and health equity research at Michigan Public Health. In this position, she focuses on evaluating interventions and exploring how social factors influence health outcomes. With a strong interest in medicine, she plans to further her education in the field. Beyond her studies, Tanya is dedicated to advocating for mental health and volunteering with underserved communities in hopes of making a real difference in the lives of others.