An in-depth mixed-methods approach to Ryan White HIV/AIDS care program comprehensive needs assessment from the Northeast Georgia Public Health District: the significance of patient privacy, psychological health, and social stigma to care.

•Introduces an anthropologically-informed mixed-method research strategy for Ryan White Programs needs assessment.•Explores relationships among issues patient privacy, psychological health, social stigma, and the HIV treatment cascade.•Presents district-level recommendations based around leverage points identified through analysis of qualitative data collected with providers and utilizers of services.•Findings highlight key institutional and interpersonal dimensions of care related to the spatial organization of HIV services and resources, provider capacity and competency to work with PLWHA, and local discourses around HIV/AIDS and HIV testing.