What is Stigma? Focus of HIV/AIDS
Stigma is a degrading and debasing attitude of the society that discredits a person or a group because of an attribute (such as an illness, deformity, color, nationality, religion, tribe, etc). The resulting coping behavior of affected person results in internalized stigma. This perceived or internalized stigma by the discredited person is equally destructive whether actual discrimination occurs or not. Stigma destroys a person’s dignity; marginalizes affected individuals; violates basic human rights; markedly diminishes the chances of a stigmatized person of achieving full potential; and seriously hampers pursuit of happiness and contentment.
When stigma is associated with a medical condition or disability it prevents individuals from seeking evaluation and treatment, disclosing the diagnosis to the people most likely to provide support and in following treatment guidelines. While there are many illnesses such as leprosy that have been severely stigmatized in the past, it is generally agreed that HIV/AIDS is the most stigmatized medical condition in the history of mankind. While society elevates the status of those receiving treatment for some conditions such as cancer or serious injuries as heroes, those who have acquired HIV are subjected to layers upon layers of stigma with assumptions that these individuals are deserving of punishment for their “assumed behavior that led them to get HIV” and they are often shunned.
Stigma prevents individuals from getting tested for HIV, seeking medical care, disclosing diagnosis and in adhering to treatment and follow up. Fear of social abandonment and losing intimate partners prevents many with HIV from sharing the diagnosis with their loved ones and sexual partners. Stigma has become a major reason why HIV epidemic continues and millions of people are getting infected and dying with HIV every year.
HIV/AIDS-related stigma is frequently layered over other forms of social inequalities (e.g., race, gender, class, sex work, homosexuality, religion, xenophobia, transgender, drug use, mental and/or physical disability, caste, disease, etc.). This accentuates both the exclusion and devaluation of PLWHA resulting in them experiencing double/multiple stigma or super-stigmatization.
HIV-related stigma and discrimination in health care settings are significant barriers that impede effective response for HIV/AIDS treatment and care. In the past four years, we have carryout a series of studies on HIV-related stigma in communities in south west region Cameroon and the impact of HIV-related stigma on people living with HIV (PLH) and their families in Cameroon.
HIV stigma is very common in sub-Sahara Africa and one way we can reduce it in the sub-Sahara African community is making more people and talk about this subject to reduce HIV stigma. Give people tips about safe sex to prevent HIV stigma and getting help for drugs like rehab. ASCOA has been organizing campaigns in communities in south west region Cameroon, arm to reduce stigma.
Stigma allows PLWHIV to be treated differently from other people.
For Example
This is a true life story that happen in 2016, A Cameroonian footballer signed for Ittihad, an Egyptian club but has had his contract terminated after medical tests reportedly came back positive for HIV, just four days after signing him from his old club after he tested positive for HIV, according to reports from KingFut.com.
“The player now finds himself in a messy situation following the club’s decision to go public with the news as this might affect all future moves in terms of getting a work permit.”
In conclusion, we should stick together to stop HIV stigma so that we can stop HIV and AIDS from killing in sub-Sahara Africa community.
Article by Linus Ayangwoh Embe
Founder and CEO
Association for Community Awareness (ASCOA)