The role of gender on HIV/AIDS stigma among medical students in Puerto Rico: implications for training and service delivery.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the role of gender on HIV/AIDS stigma among 507 medical students in Puerto Rico.

METHODS

A secondary data analysis was performed with baseline measurements of a controlled randomized study.

RESULTS

Unadjusted analyses showed that the overall multivariate test for gender was significant [X2(11) = 38.79, p = .0001]. Males evidenced higher stigma levels on multiple dimensions of HIV/AIDS stigma.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that gender needs to be taken into consideration when engaging in stigma research and when developing stigma reduction interventions as part of medical students training.