Little is known about the intersection of HIV stigma and substance use stigma. Using data from 188 HIV-positive people who inject drugs (PWID) in Russia, we examined the associations of these stigmas and their interaction with access and utilization of healthcare. While substance use stigma was significantly associated with poor access to care (AOR 2.31, 95%CI 1.50-3.57), HIV stigma was not. HIV stigma was associated with lower inpatient care utilization (AOR 0.32, 95%CI 0.14-0.65), while substance use stigma was not. We did not detect a significant interaction between the two forms of stigma for either of the primary outcomes. However, those with high levels of both substance use stigma and HIV stigma had higher odds of poor general access to healthcare (AOR 1.86, 95%CI 1.19-2.92), and lower odds of recent general outpatient (AOR 0.52, 95%CI 0.32-0.85) and any inpatient (AOR 0.48, 95%CI 0.22-0.99) care utilization compared to those with low levels of both types of stigma. Interventions addressing both substance use and HIV stigma in general healthcare settings might improve care in this HIV key population.

This study evaluated the association between impulsivity and linkage to HIV care among Russians living with HIV recruited from an inpatient narcology hospital. Linking Infectious and Narcology Care (LINC) study participants who completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) were included in these analyses. The primary independent variable was impulsivity score which was categorized as high impulsivity (BIS score > 71) vs. low impulsivity (BIS score < = 71). The primary outcome, linkage to care post recruitment, was defined as one or more HIV medical care visits at 12-month follow-up. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between high impulsivity and linkage to HIV care controlling for potential confounders. Participants (N = 227) were adults with a mean age of 34 years (SD = 5), and the majority were male (74%). We did not detect a significant association between impulsivity and linkage to HIV care after adjusting for respondents' age, gender, CD4 cell count, and depression score. We also found that substance use and hazardous drinking did not appear to confound the relationship. Although our study was unable to detect an association between impulsivity and linkage to HIV care, it may provide direction for future research exploring the associations between impulsivity and HIV care.

People with HIV (PWH) who inject drugs often experience coexisting HIV- and substance use-related stigma manifestations. We assessed correlates of HIV stigma (Berger HIV stigma scale), substance use stigma (Substance Abuse Self-stigma scale) and intersectional HIV and substance use stigma in a cohort of PWH with a lifetime history of drug use in St. Petersburg, Russia. Intersectional stigma was defined as having a score greater than the median for both forms of stigma. Of the 208 participants, 56 (27%) had intersectional stigma. Depressive symptoms and alcohol dependence were significantly associated with a higher HIV and substance stigma score, but not with intersectional stigma. Individual and community interventions to reduce the impact of HIV stigma and substance use stigma affecting PWH who inject drugs should consider assessing and addressing mental health and unhealthy substance use. Further work with longitudinal data is needed to understand mechanisms leading to intersectional stigma.