Disclosure of HIV status and stigma in rural communities in Brazil: A conundrum for researchers

Authors

  • Patricia Neves Guimaraes Department of Mental and Public Health, State University of Montes Claros, Montes Claros-MG, Brazil
  • Valerie Hongoh Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique (GREZOSP), Université de Montréal, SaintHyacinthe, Canada
  • Mohammad Hajizadeh Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
  • Drissa Sia Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Montréal, Canada

Keywords:

HIV/AIDS, stigma, rural community, ethics, impersonation, confidentiality, anonymity of research participants, deception

Language(s):

English

Abstract

Stigmatization and discrimination are common consequences following disclosure of HIV serostatus; such factors are especially problematic in rural communities where “everyone knows everyone”. In this case study, researchers conducting ethnographic field studies in remote areas of Brazil decided to impersonate friends or relatives of research participants living with HIV as a means to protect participants from inadvertent disclosure of their serostatus to fellow community members. These acts of “wilful deception” raise issues about honesty and integrity in research, and how to balance issues of confidentiality with communicating research findings to communities and the broader public.

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Published

2013-07-30

Issue

Vol. 2 (2013)

Section

Case studies

License

Copyright (c) 2013 Patricia Neves Guimaraes, Valerie Hongoh, Mohammad Hajizadeh, Drissa Sia

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.