Assessing stigma and perceptions of respectful care in Malawi's index case testing program: Findings from a cluster randomized controlled trial

Healthcare worker (HCW) HIV-related stigma can reduce participation in HIV prevention services in Malawi, including HIV index testing. However, evidence on interventions to reduce HCW stigma and improve client experiences of care in index testing settings remains limited. We evaluated HCW stigmatizing attitudes and also assessed anticipated stigma and perceptions of respectful care among both people living with HIV (index clients) and their sexual partners (contact clients) in index testing settings.