Stigma and discrimination against people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS continues unabated. Fear of acquiring the infection, perceived morbidity and mortality associated with the disease, and community notions about sexual morality contribute to a large extent to the persistence of stigma and pose a significant challenge to implementing prevention and care programs for HIV/AIDS. Thus stigma increases the vulnerability of people to HIV and worsens the impact of infection on PLHIV. The nature of this disease, absence to a large extent of societal support and the stigma attached pose many challenges for PLWHA in coping with the disease. While providing care and support to PLHIV, the most important thing is to explore these matters from the perspective of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Objectives:

The objectives of the study were to understand

• Dimensions, context, levels and forms of stigmatization from the perspective of people living with HIV/AIDS,
• Diffusion of information of a person’s HIV status and the apparent reasons for that,
• Different support systems for PLHIV,
• Various strategies adopted by PLHIV for coping with the disease,
• Stigmatization in the health care system; its forms, context and consequences.

Study site: Prayas (Health Group)

Type of research: Qualitative research

Investigators: Dr Shrinivas Darak and Dr Sanjeevani Kulkarni

Funding: NIMHANS, Small Grants

Start date: 2001

End date: 2003