Interventions to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma: What have we learned? (original) (raw)
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Stigma: The Key Challenge for Hiv/Aids Communication
2006
people who live with it explain it, or rather how they construct schemes of risk assessment in the face of it. It is by listening to the 'stories' that we can understand the context in which the pandemic is constructed, including factors that may promote or constrain behaviour change" Rugalema (2004: 192). Two of the stories that Rugalema refers to are reported as follows: they are both voices of high school girls from Rhini Township, in Grahamstown, South Africa. "Close by my house there is a little girl who is HIV positive. At her home it's only her sister who knows about the young girl's status. They are both scared that if they tell their parents, they will chase her away from home.
HIV therapy, 2009
Addressing HIV-related stigma "Ending the AIDS pandemic will depend largely on changing the social norms, attitudes and behaviors that contribute to its expansion. Action against AIDS-related stigma must be supported by top leadership and at every level of society" [1].
Stigma in the HIV/AIDS epidemic: a review of the literature and recommendations for the way forward
AIDS, 2008
Although stigma is considered a major barrier to effective responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, stigma reduction efforts are relegated to the bottom of AIDS program priorities. The complexity of HIV/AIDS related stigma is often cited as a primary reason for the limited response to this pervasive phenomenon. In this paper, we systematically review the scientific literature on HIV/AIDS related stigma to document the current state of research, identify gaps in the available evidence, and highlight promising strategies to address stigma. We focus on the following key challenges: defining, measuring, and reducing HIV/AIDS related stigma as well as assessing the impact of stigma on the effectiveness of HIV prevention and treatment programs. Based on the literature, we conclude by offering a set of recommendations that may represent important next steps in a multifaceted response to stigma in the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
2006
People's attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS remain a major community challenge. There is a need to generate a climate of understanding, compassion and dignity in which people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) will be able to voluntarily disclose their status and receive the support and respect all people deserve. However, many people experience discrimination because they have HIV/AIDS. In a certain area in Khayelitsha, a township in Cape Town, a young woman was killed after disclosing the HIV status after being raped by five men. This has become a barrier to testing, treatment, on quality of life and social responses to HIV/AIDS. While many previous studies have focused on the external stigma in the general population, there is a dearth of studies on stigma among PLWHA themselves and hence the aim of the present study was to investigate stigma attached to HIV/AIDS from the perspective of PLWHA. The focus group research method was used to collect the data. Six focus groups consisting of 8-10 people in each group were held in Khayelitsha drawn from organizations working with PLWHA and Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). Data was analyzed using discourse analysis and the PEN-3 Model was used to explain the themes that emerged from the data. Results showed that PLWHA are affected by both enacted and internal stigma related to HIV/AIDS. It was found that the experiences of discrimination and stigma often originate from the fear and perceptions of PLWHA as immoral or living dead. They suffer rejection at home, work, school and in the health care centres. Results also showed that PLWHA felt shame, guilt, hopelessness and useless. This internalized stigma leads to withdrawal, depression, not to disclose the HIV status and prevent people for testing for HIV and also affect health-seeking behaviour. However, participants who were well informed and those who were members of the support groups reported that they are coping with the illness and they are open about their HIV-status. This suggests that education efforts have been remarkably successful in changing attitudes. It is recommended that stigma reduction programmes should involve PLWHA, community leaders and the community members to be part of the planning and implementation. It is also important to look at the successful programmes already existing in the area and adapt them and also to evaluate the effectiveness. Prof. Leickness Simbayi for your support, encouragement and being patient with me until the end of this process. The Penn-State University and Human Science Research Council for providing me fellowship and the facilities which made it possible for me to finish my thesis. Chelsea Morroni for support, friendship, motivation and containment which kept me going. My husband, children and family for the inspiration, encouragement and providing me space to finish this thesis. PLWHA who participated in this study for sharing your experiences with me. Thank you for trusting me with your sensitive life stories, without you this project was not going to be possible.