|  | Conditions Treatments | HIV AIDS

Stigma & Discrimination of HIV

According to the U.K.'s HIV/AIDS information resource AVERT, discrimination and stigma is attached to HIV/AIDS on a variety of levels, including government, educational, health care and personal. Stigma and discrimination involves prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse and maltreatment directed toward people living with HIV/AIDS.

  1. HIV/AIDS

    • The American Medical Network describes the human immunodeficiency virus as the infection that leads to acquired immune deficiency syndrome. HIV causes the reduction in blood cells within the immune system reducing the disease-fighting ability of the body. The slow degeneration of the immune system usually takes many years to progress to AIDS. When the human body becomes infected with the AIDS virus, the individual finds it difficult to fight off a variety of viruses as well as some forms of cancer.

    Types

    • There are a number of kinds of stigma and discrimination attached to HIV/AIDS, according to AVERT. On a national level, a government can introduce legislation that discriminates against individuals living with HIV/AIDS by failing to provide adequate policies to deal with the AIDS epidemic. In medical situations, people with HIV/AIDS can be denied access to necessary treatments, drugs and health care facilities. AVERT claims stigma and discrimination in employment circumstances can take the form of refusal of promotion, refusal of employment or termination of employment. On a personal level, discrimination and stigma can lead to the isolation of the individual living with HIV/AIDS from family members and friends.

    Factors

    • The stigma and discrimination against individuals living with HIV/AIDS is largely affected by what part of the world the individual lives in. AVERT reports that the levels of discrimination faced by people with HIV/AIDS varies because of factors such as religious beliefs, moral values and education levels. The effects of HIV/AIDS discrimination are felt at many levels, including the willingness of a person with HIV/AIDS to visit health care facilities in order to be tested, treated and receive drugs.

    Law

    • In the U.S., the HIV/AIDS awareness group The Body reports on antidiscrimination laws for people living with HIV/AIDS. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), infection with HIV/AIDS is classed as a disability resulting in the inability to complete one or more life activities. Under the ADA, people living with HIV/AIDS are guaranteed equal opportunity in various areas of life including accommodation, employment, and in state and federal government services.

    Causes

    • According to AVERT, there are a number of causes for the stigma and discrimination attached to HIV/AIDS. These include the relative newness of the disease in 2010. AVERT claims that the fear associated with the disease upon its initial discovery in the 1980s contributes to the fear felt by many in society about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted. HIV/AIDS is also seen by many groups in society as a punishment for immoral or deviant behavior because of the association of HIV/AIDS with drug abuse and sexual promiscuity.

HIV AIDS - Related Articles