HIV/Aids stigma research

Positive Women’s Network (PWN), which is based in Braamfontein, conducted a study on the stigma of HIV/Aids.

They found out these stigmas cause barriers to prevention: the provision of adequate health care; prevention from psychological and social support; prevention from appropriate medical treatments; loss of income and livelihood; loss of marriage and childbearing options; poor care within the health sector, withdrawal of care-giving in the home; loss of hope and feelings of worthlessness and loss of reputation. These cannot be understood without considering factors such as poverty, gender-based violence, social inequality, and local norms and attitudes.

Different types of stigma:

• External – done by others through attitudes, rejection, stereotyping and discrimination of people living with HIV/Aids (PLHIV)
• Internal – happens when PLHIV begin to believe the negative things being said about them
• Anticipated – the anticipation or expectation that one will be treated differently or poorly because of the stigmatised identity of PLHIV as a group
• Courtesy – a person perceives or experiences discrimination due to their association with PLHIV.

A total of 10 473 HIV positive people were used for the study from 18 districts, of whom 49 per cent were from small towns or villages; 31 percent were from rural areas; 20 per cent were from large towns or cities and 65 per cent of the respondents were women.

The overall aim of the study was to measure the levels of stigma and discrimination experienced by PLHIV in the general population of SA and to use this information to strengthen programmes and service delivery.

PWN is an NGO which is committed to creating an environment in which people living with HIV/Aids are free from stigmatisation and discrimination because of their HIV status.

The Department of Health has a ’90-90-90 Unaids’ vision for 2020 and this entails that 90 per cent of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status; 90 per cent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained anti-retroviral therapy [Art] and 90 per cent of all people receiving Art will have viral suppression. By 2030 they hope to have zero people living with HIV/Aids in SA.

Details:

Positive Women’s Network [PWN] Braamfontein Office 011 339 7679.

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