03036nas a2200409   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653001100058653002500069653003400094653000900128653003400137653001700171653002200188100001300210700001300223700001100236700001200247700001400259700001500273700001300288700001300301700001300314700001300327700001400340700001400354700001300368700001100381700001800392700001800410245009300428856015300521300000900674490000700683520192200690022001402612       2024                            d  bElsevier BV10aStigma10aLow-income countries10aLower-middle income countries10aLMIC10aUpper-middle income countries10aIntervention10aSystematic review1 aMajeed T1 aHopkin G1 aWang K1 aNepal S1 aVotruba N1 aGronholm P1 aGurung D1 aSemrau M1 aBagade T1 aFarina N1 aMusyimi C1 aPingani L1 aBreuer E1 aLund C1 aThornicroft G1 aEvans-Lacko S00aAnti-stigma interventions in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review  uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537024001913/pdfft?md5=60fc7ec767f5762126cce27e894d7bb5&pid=1-s2.0-S2589537024001913-main.pdf  a1-110 v723 a<p><strong>Background:</strong> Stigma exacerbates power imbalances and societal disparities, significantly impacting diverse identities and health conditions, particularly for low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Though crucial for dismantling harmful stereotypes, and enhancing healthcare utilisation, existing research on anti-stigma interventions is limited with its condition-focused approach. We aimed to thoroughly evaluate peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature for a comprehensive review of anti-stigma interventions for diverse identities and all health conditions in LMICs.</p>

<p><strong>Methods:</strong> This review systematically explored peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature, in ten electronic databases up to January 30, 2024, covering all anti-stigma interventions across various stigmatised identities and health conditions in LMICs. Quality assessment for this systematic review was conducted as per Cochrane Collaboration’s suggested inclusions. The review was registered with PROSPERO (Registration: 2017 CRD42017064283).</p>

<p><strong>Findings:</strong> Systematic synthesis of the 192 included studies highlights regional imbalances, while providing valuable insights on robustness and reliability of anti-stigma research. Most studies used quasi-experimental design, and most centred on HIV/AIDS or mental health related stigma, with very little work on other issues. Certain high-population LMICs had no/little representation. Interpretation The interventions targeted diverse segments of populations and consequently yielded a multitude of stigma-related outcomes. However, despite the heterogeneity of studies, most reported positive outcomes underscoring the effectiveness of existing interventions to reduce stigma.</p>

<p><strong>Funding</strong> This study is supported by the UK Medical Research Council Indigo Partnership (MR/R023697/1) award.</p>
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