HIV STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION

 What is HIV stigma?
Negative attitudes and ideas about HIV-positive people define HIV stigma. When someone is labeled as belonging to a group that is deemed socially unacceptable, it brings to prejudice.

Here are a few examples:

• Believing that only certain groups of people can get HIV
• Making moral judgments about those who adopt HIV prevention measures
• Feeling that people deserve to be infected with HIV as a result of their action

What is discrimination?

Discrimination refers to the behaviors that emerge from certain attitudes or beliefs, whereas stigma refers to an attitude or belief. The act of treating people living with HIV differently than those who do not have HIV is known as HIV discrimination.

Here are a few examples:

• A health care professional refusing to provide care or services to a person living with HIV
• Refusing casual contact with someone living with HIV
• Socially isolating a member of a community because they are HIV positive
• Referring to people as HIVers or Positives

What causes HIV stigma?

The fear of HIV lies at the basis of HIV stigma. We get a lot of our HIV concepts from HIV visuals that initially surfaced in the early 1980s. There are still a lot of misconceptions about how HIV is spread and what it's like to live with HIV in today's world.

People are afraid of contracting HIV due to a lack of information and awareness, as well as outmoded ideas. Furthermore, many individuals consider HIV to be a sickness that affects just a select number of people. As a result, those living with HIV are subjected to unfavorable value judgments.

What are the effects of HIV stigma and discrimination?

HIV stigma and discrimination have an impact on those living with HIV's emotional well-being and mental health. People living with HIV frequently absorb stigma and acquire a bad self-image as a result. If their HIV status is exposed, individuals may be afraid of being discriminated against or judged adversely.

“Internalized stigma” or “self-stigma” happens when a person takes in the negative ideas and stereotypes about people living with HIV and start to apply them to themselves. HIV internalized stigma can lead to feelings of shame, fear of disclosure, isolation, and despair. These feelings can keep people from getting tested and treated for HIV.

What can be done about HIV stigma?

Here is a video that might help you gain more knowledge about HIV 

Link: https://youtu.be/2oX_WjkGT04

References and content source: Division of HIV Prevention, National Center for HIV,
Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Disclaimer:
This blog is for educational purposes only.