Addressing Medical Mistrust to Improve Health Outcomes for People Living with and Impacted by HIV in the Southern United States

People living with HIV face a myriad of challenges to access medical and other supportive services. This issue brief focuses on the intersection of the historical and current implications of medical mistrust and its impact on engagement in care for people living with HIV in the South.

The brief outlines factors that contribute to the development of medical mistrust amongst people living with HIV, lists key strategies for Southern health departments (HDs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) to respond to medical mistrust, highlights a case study from a Southern health department, and provides resources for further learning for HDs and CBOs to build capacity around addressing medical mistrust amongst clients.