The relationship between stigma, family acceptance, peer support and stress level among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia

Objective: This present study investigates the level of stress and its relationship with stigma, family acceptance, and peer support among 176 HIV-positive MSM in Medan, Indonesia. Method: This cross-sectional study with chi-square analysis was conducted April 2018 through May 2018 in Medan. The sample of this study were general HIV patients who identified themselves as MSM, were >18 years old, and were able to read and write in Indonesian. Data collection was conducted at Dr. H. Adam Malik Medan Hospital, Pirngadi General Hospital, Padang Bulan, and Teladan Kota Medan Health Center. Results: Findings show that 55.1% of the participants had severe stress. The results of this statistic showed that only stigma was positively associated with stress (p = 0.049). Conclusions: The results suggested that there is a need to reduce HIV stigma in reducing stress levels among HIV-positive MSM. Specific intervention should be designed for this population and integrated into programs to reduce stress levels.