Exploring Gay Male Youths’ Perceptions of Stigma in the Therapeutic Relationship at a Gay Men’s Sexual Health Clinic

Abstract

Since 1999, youth have experienced an increase in HIV incidence. Gay male youth, in particular, are a priority sub-population because they accounted for the highest exposure category in 2008 among youth. Due to the lack of studies on gay male youth who are susceptible to HIV, and the reality that most previous research on stigma may no longer reflect the contemporary context, nursing based research was undertaken. Utilizing critical theory, stigma within the therapeutic relationship was investigated through eight semi-structured interviews with gay male youth who were recruited through a gay men’s sexual health clinic in Ottawa, Canada. The results of this research showed that while stigma, whether perceived stigma or the fear of stigmatization, was still felt by these participants in some interactions, overall, these youth had positive experiences with the health care system, particularly within the context of the gay men’s sexual health clinic.