HIV Stigma and Discriminations

All those who are infected with HIV and are diagnosed with it, actually go through a tough time in the society. This holds true in underdeveloped nations, where HIV is considered as the most degrading disease and its causes are looked down as highly immoral.

In most underdeveloped nations, the causes of HIV prompt the people to castrate those who are infected with it. In most societies HIV stigma and discriminations are caused due to the following reasons.

• Injection of drugs: Addiction to drug is itself a crime in most societies. Therefore all those who are having HIV due to this reason are considered as low in moral, hence.

• Sexual alliances with more than one partner: In these societies, where family bonding and loyalty plays a huge role, having more than one sexual partner is a social offence. Even if one indulges in such an activity, it is kept concealed. A person contracting the disease from such an act is considered as a spoiled character. This discrimination invites more accusations than sympathy.

• Other possible sexual alliances that prompt to the contraction of the disease can also lead to HIV stigma and discriminations. They are

  1. Rapes: A girl being subjected to rape is not treated properly in most underdeveloped societies. Her character is put under several questions. A girl who has contracted the disease because of rape is totally rejected by the society.
  2. Prostitution: It is a moral crime. Hence a person acquiring the disease through prostitution is considered as immoral and harmful for the society.

• Homosexuality: This is one of the major causes of HIV and is the biggest reason behind HIV death. Homosexuality is a social taboo and a crime. People having non-conformist sexual orientation are treated as abnormal. Moreover, if the same person contracts a disease like HIV then he is bound to go through harsh social harassments and threats. For this reason, several homosexuals refuse to go for check ups and diagnosis, so that their sexual orientation does not get exposed. The family pressure and the pressure to have a family also makes homosexuality unacceptable, leading to HIV stigma and discriminations if the person contracts it.Therefore, it is not the disease that is looked down upon. In most cases, the behavior and the action of the patient (like drug abuse, homosexuality, promiscuity and prostitution), that is associated with the disease that leads to the HIV stigma and discrimination. Many people have other irrelevant fear that leads to HIV stigma and discriminations. These fears are baseless and are mostly based on myths. However, it contributes no less in making the life of a HIV patient miserable.

• False information about the transmission of the disease. Many people think that the disease may propagate through sharing food, wearing the same clothes, sharing the same toilet or pool. Therefore, these ignorant people discriminates them for the sake of their personal safety.

• Moral and supernatural beliefs associated with the disease make HIV stigma and discriminations more prominent. Many people are under the impression that such diseases are a result of past sins and hence they deserve punishments.

• It is a fatal disease and people want to stay away from it by simply curtailing social contact with the patient.

However, with several research, campaigns and HIV awareness camps, many people have changed their perspectives regarding the disease. They are now aware of the causes and look upon it with sympathy. Although a huge fraction is still unaware and rigidly adhere to the HIV stigma and discriminations.