Developments in treatments means that more and more people with HIV are living longer and healthier lives. But the prejudice and stigma experienced by people living with HIV can still be a barrier to them accessing the support services and treatment they need.
Currently, about a third of people with HIV are unaware that they have the infection, with stigma playing a major part in preventing people from testing for HIV. Yet the earlier people are tested and diagnosed the better their health outcomes and the less likely the chances of onward transmission.
There are a number of ways to address HIV related stigma and discrimination including:
Knowing The Facts about HIV
Having a basic knowledge of the HIV can dispel the myths and misconceptions about how the virus is transmitted.
Further information about the HIV virus and the ways it can be transmitted are available further on this page.
Don’t Make Assumptions
There is no way of knowing that a person is HIV positive unless they disclose this information. We should not make assumptions about a person’s HIV status (whether assume they are HIV+ or HIV-) or how we might assume they have contracted the virus based on their age, ethnicity, sexuality, gender or life choices.
Don’t Make Judgements
Disclosure of HIV status to families, friends, partners etc. can be difficult when a person feels they may be judged negatively or ‘blamed’ for their HIV+ status.
We should not judge a person based on their HIV status, or compare how they were infected against how another person might become infected and offer more or less sympathy or compassion to one or the other.
Understand That Disclosure Is Not Easy
People living with HIV have the same rights as anyone to a happy, fulfilling life, including pleasurable and satisfying sex and relationships. However, previous experiences where they have disclosed their status and have been or were concerned they would be rejected by family members or sexual partners, may prevent them from disclosing their status.
Rather than assume, or expect a person living with HIV to have to disclose their status, we should respect each individual’s right to share this information at a time when they feel able to and when it feels right for them. Recent prosecutions for ‘reckless’ transmission of HIV (through the grievous bodily harm sections of Offences Against the Person Act of 1861) may also contribute to fears and anxieties about disclosing HIV status.
NAT and THT have produced a guide for people living with HIV in England and Wales on prosecutions for HIV Transmission which is available to download from the NAT website.
Challenging Stigma and Discrimination – putting it into practice
There are a range of ways that HIV related stigma and discrimination may be challenged, but it should not be assumed that this is the sole responsibility of those living with, or directly affected by the virus.
Things we can do
- Wear a red ribbon
- Challenge discriminatory statements or behaviours
- Correct misinformation
- Understand and respect the various anxieties around disclosure
- Support and promote World AIDS Day (1st December) each year
- Services can ensure that they are welcoming and supportive of all people living with or affected by HIV
“Stigma is the single most important barrier to public action. It is the main reason why too many people are afraid to see a doctor to determine whether they have the disease, or to seek treatment if so. It helps make AIDS the silent killer, because people fear the social disgrace of speaking about it, or taking easily available precautions. Stigma is a chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world.”
Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General
The information above is available in the ‘HIV Reality Check’ information leaflet, available to order free of charge for Sheffield based organisations from our publications section.
Find out more
Resources
Downloads
- Give Stigma The Index Finger
- Talking about HIV and AIDS (3mb pdf)
- HIV and AIDS – do you know the facts? (371kb pdf)
- HIV: Gay Men Sheffield (386kb pdf)
- Positive Women: Thoughts & Feelings (430kb pdf)
- HIV Reality Check leaflet (631kb pdf)
- HIV Reality Check poster (257kb pdf)
Other resources
HIV & Stigma
Available from NAM
Tel: 0207 840 0050
www.aidsmap.com
Stigma, discrimination and attitudes to HIV & AIDS
Available from AVERT
www.avert.org/hiv-aids-stigma.htm
Prosecutions for HIV Transmission – a guide for people living with HIV in England and Wales
Available from NAT
www.nat.org.uk/Our-thinking/Law-stigma-and-discrimination.aspx
National AIDS Trust Living With HIV
Available from NAT
www.nat.org.uk/Living-with-HIV/Useful-information/Confidentiality.aspx
