Factors That Enhance Health Literacy in Dealing with HIV Stigma: A Scoping Review

Background and Objectives: Efforts to reveal the factors that drive health literacy toward eradicating stigma in people with HIV/AIDS are significant. This study aimed to identify and extract the factors that promote health literacy in eliminating HIV stigma in society. Material and Methods: The scoping reviews study was used to map out the evidence for recommendations based on PRISMA-ScR. Systematically search through Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), CINAHL via EBSCOhost, and SpringerLink to find articles published during ۲۰۱۷-۲۰۲۲. Studies were selected based on inclusion criteria, focusing on factors that mediate health literacy in eradicating HIV/AIDS stigma. Results: Twenty-eight articles met the criteria and were used in the review. After reviewing the articles, the factors that promote health literacy in eradicating HIV stigma in society were divided into three main dimensions: personal characteristics, societal and environmental factors, and situational factors regarding the disease, with ۱۶ component factors. Conclusion: Health literacy impacts reducing social stigma against people with HIV in society. Factors influencing health literacy must be considered to optimize social stigma reduction. The factors mentioned comprise individual traits, knowledge, motivation, social support, information media, awareness of the disease, fear of HIV transmission, perception of the disease, and personal beliefs about HIV disease. Health professionals could use this evidence to promote health literacy to address the social stigma against people living with HIV based on the factors related to health literacy.

Keywords:

Information Literacy , health education , Stereotyping , Social Inclusion , Social Stigma