Reducing Stigma and Discrimination
Gaps in Research
- 1.
- Further interventions are needed to reduce stigma and discrimination against women, specifically, who are at high risk or living with HIV.
- 2.
- Judicial action, legislation, and training on legal rights can protect people living with HIV from discrimination.
- 3.
- Provision of ART can reduce stigma, but additional interventions are needed.
- 4.
- Increased dissemination of basic knowledge on HIV is needed to reduce stigma.
1. Further interventions are needed to reduce stigma and discrimination against women, specifically, who are at high risk or living with HIV. [See also Antenatal Care - Treatment] Studies found that women and girls are highly stigmatized if they test positive for HIV. Stigma impacts the HIV-positive woman, herself, as well as her children, her siblings and her family. Some providers also discriminate against those living with HIV.
Gap noted, for example, in Uganda (Medley et al., 2009b); Malawi (Namakhoma et al., 2010); Kenya (Machera, 2009); Nigeria (Adewuya et al., 2009); China (Chinese CDC and ILO, 2011; Parry, 2011; Sullivan et al., 2010a; Zhang et al., 2010b); India (Van Hollen, 2010); Zimbabwe (Campbell et al., 2011a); Malawi (Peters et al., 2010b); South Africa (Brown et al., 2010); Yemen (Al-Serouri et al., 2010); and Thailand (Liamputtong et al., 2009).
2. Judicial action, legislation, and training on legal rights can protect people living with HIV from discrimination. Studies found that people reported being denied housing or being evicted for testing HIV-positive but that peer education on legal rights may increase protect people from discrimination. [See also Advancing Human Rights and Access to Justice for Women and Girls]
Gap noted, for example, in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia (Nyblade et al., 2003).
3. Provision of ART can reduce stigma, but additional interventions are needed. Studies found that lack of knowledge of ARV treatment increased stigma, but that ARV treatment alone did not eliminate stigma and discrimination.
Gap noted, for example, in Russia (Amirkhanian et al., 2011); Zambia (Fox et al., 2010a); Mozambique (Pearson et al., 2009); Thailand, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and South Africa (Maman et al., 2009; Genberg et al., 2009); and Tanzania (Roura et al., 2008).
4. Increased dissemination of basic knowledge on HIV is needed to reduce stigma. A study found that both men and women attending HIV testing lacked basic knowledge on how HIV is transmitted, with a majority believing for example, that HIV is transmitted by sharing food and about half refusing to associate with an HIV-positive individual.
Gap noted, for example, in Iraq (Hayyawi et al., 2010); Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan (Badahdah and Foote, 2010); and Yemen (Badahdah and Sayem, 2010).