Stigma of HIV removed with the help of influential hospital staff

A trial in over 40 hospitals in China has shown that stigmatising attitudes and behaviours toward people living with HIV can be reduced through education of influential hospital staff.
In the study, researchers recruited about 15% of the popular opinion leaders within hospitals, who were trained to disseminate stigma reduction messages.
In these hospitals there were significant improvements in reducing prejudicial attitudes, reducing avoidance intent towards people living with HIV, and increasing institutional support in the hospitals after six months. The effects of the campaign persisted and were strengthened at 12 months.
Source: American Journal of Public Health