"In God's Hands": Qualitative Study of Religion/Spirituality and HIV-Related Intersectional Stigma Among Black Women Living With HIV in Washington, DC

Tamara Taggart, Tamara Taggart, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Megan A. Jones, Tamara Taggart, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Maniza A. Habib, Tamara Taggart, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Natalie Price, Tamara Taggart, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
George Kerr, Tamara Taggart, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Manya Magnus, Tamara Taggart, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Khadijah Abdullah, Tamara Taggart, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-9-2026

Journal

The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANAC

DOI

10.1097/JNC.0000000000000616

Keywords

Black women; HIV; intersectional stigma; qualitative; spirituality

Abstract

Cisgender Black women living with HIV (BWLWH) face significant intersectional stigma, racism, and discrimination, contributing to lower adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Given the role of religion and spirituality in Black communities, we explored their influence on HIV treatment. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 BWLWH in Washington, DC (M age = 52.7, SD = 15.95), living with HIV for an average of 26 years (SD = 9.72); 33% were virally suppressed. Interviews averaged 52 min and revealed intersectional stigma from multiple sources that negatively affected ART adherence. Despite stigma in religious spaces, many participants relied on spirituality to cope, stay in care, and find meaning in their diagnosis. Our findings highlight spirituality as a vital support for BWLWH. Future interventions should address both intersectional stigma and the protective role of spirituality to improve ART adherence and help reach the goals of Ending the HIV Epidemic.

Department

Epidemiology

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS