The AIDS epidemic is one of the world’s most significant challenges

The AIDS epidemic is one of the world’s most significant challenges. AIDS has exposed the
perilous state of many countries’ health care systems as well as killing 8000 people daily, leaving
thousands of children orphaned and reducing communities’ productive capacity. The AIDS
pandemic has seen an epidemic of HIV-related stigma, discrimination and denial follow in its wake.
Stigma and discrimination increase vulnerability and the impact of HIV among people living with
and affected by it. They both seriously threaten the effectiveness of HIV prevention and treatment,
which means tackling stigma and discrimination must be at the heart of the AIDS response.What is HIV-related stigma?
Stigma is a powerful social label that
radically changes the way people are
viewed and view themselves. Stigma
reinforces pre-existing negative
assumptions, beliefs and prejudices.
When a stigmatizing label is applied it is
usually because society considers
something undesirable, shameful or
unworthy.
This is true of HIV, which has reinforced
deeply held prejudices against groups
already marginalized and stigmatized,
including gay men and other men who have
sex with men, injecting drug users and sex
workers. HIV has also heightened the
taboos associated with sex in general,
and the association of HIV with Africa
has reinforced racial prejudice.
HIV-related stigma occurs for a range
of reasons, including:
�� the fact that AIDS is a life-threatening
disease;
�� AIDS is associated with physical
illnesses such as wasting;
�� HIV is infectious, and there remains
ignorance and a lack of understanding
about HIV transmission;
�� the association of HIV with
behaviours which some consider
deviant or morally reprehensible,
including homosexuality, injecting
drug use and sexual promiscuity;
�� the view that people living with HIV are
responsible for their infection; and
�� HIV is associated with groups
already stigmatized and discriminated
against, including sexual minorities
and racial groups.
What is HIV-related discrimination?
HIV-related discrimination can be
defined as any act, measure or
omission that results in someone being
treated less favourably because they
have, or are believed to have, HIV.
Discrimination, as distinct from stigma,
occurs when someone is treated
unfairly on the basis of their confirmed
or suspected HIV status. HIV-related
discrimination can have a wide reach,
extending to people associated with
people living with HIV, whether personally,
or through family or professional
association.
HIV-related discrimination can interact
with pre-existing sources of stigma and
discrimination. This means that HIV
discrimination often impacts on people
who are imputed to be HIV-positive
because of who they are, or are perceived
to be, such as gay men or other men
who have sex with men or people who
use or have had a history of using drugs.
Stigma and HIV-positive people
Stigmatization of and discrimination
against people living with HIV adversely
effects their health and well-being, can
touch all aspects of their lives, is often
subtle and difficult to change, can result
in violence and abuse, contributes to
isolation and a lack of security, and can
be painful and stressful. Researchshows that people who feel stigmatized
by HIV are more likely to experience
depression and less likely to access
health services.c