Health beliefs and their influence on HIV-related stereotypes and prejudice in an Indonesian community

HIV-related stigma remains a major barrier to prevention, testing, and treatment, particularly in low-resource settings. This study examined how constructs of the Health Belief Model, including perceived threat, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and perceived self-efficacy, are associated with stereotypes and prejudice toward people living with HIV in Bandung Regency, Indonesia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 246 adults using validated instruments. Most participants (67.5%) had high HIV knowledge, yet 46.7% reported high stereotypes and 39.8% reported high prejudice. High perceived barriers predicted greater odds of stereotypes (OR = 3.22; 95% CI: 1.50–6.90; p = 0.003) and prejudice (OR = 4.65; 95% CI: 2.24–9.63; p < 0.001), while high perceived benefits predicted lower odds of stereotypes (OR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.15–0.68; p = 0.003). Perceived threat and perceived self-efficacy were not significant predictors. Interventions should prioritize reducing perceived barriers and enhancing perceived benefits to reduce stigma and improve HIV service uptake.