Many women were interviewed in this fashion as part of
contact tracing procedures, also referred to as HIV partner
notification, which is a public health practice of identifying,
locating and informing someone that a partner they have had
sex or used drugs with has been diagnosed with HIV (CATIE,
2014). Women undergoing contact tracing by a health care
provider who did not “fit” the stereotypes associated with HIV
risk, for example, promiscuity and multiple sexual partners,
substance use, also perceived their HIV testing and diagnosis
experience as HIV-related stigma. Regardless of whether it was
contact tracing procedures or providing women their HIV
diagnosis, women did not feel the information regarding their
HIV status and subsequent prognosis and care opportunities
were communicated in a supportive manner and women often
felt blame and shame for acquiring HIV. As noted in the above
narratives, HIV-related stigma crept into many facets of
women’s health care interactions; this was also the case for
newly diagnosed women who may themselves be unable to
contextualize their HIV risk.