Stigma is defined as the set of negative beliefs and attitudes about a certain group of individuals that ostracizes them from society and unfortunately labels them as “socially undesirable.” Stigma is frequently acknowledged to be incredibly harmful, and may produce a variety of negative consequences to one’s emotional health and self-image. What is less commonly recognized however, are the ramifications it can produce on an individual’s actual health outcomes and overall quality of life. 

For individuals living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), these effects can be devastating. Stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV is already quite severe given that it is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The CDC notes that there is often the belief that only certain groups of people can be infected with HIV, (sexually active, LGBTQ+, etc.) or even the belief that people “deserved” to get HIV due to their choices. People living with HIV frequently begin to internalize the stigma they face, inducing feelings of shame, hopelessness, and loneliness.  

The effects of this stigma take a turn for the worse when they begin to affect a person’s desire to get treatment and help. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS), states that “when people living with, or at risk of, HIV are discriminated against in health-care settings, they go underground. This seriously undermines our ability to reach people with HIV testing, treatment and prevention services.” The fear of facing additional stigma and discrimination may grow so severe that people living with HIV actively choose to avoid clinics, thus worsening their condition. 

Even when individuals living with HIV do seek treatment, stigma continues to bleed into the way they receive care. In a peer-reviewed study published in the AIDS and Behavior journal, it was discovered that perceived community stigma had a statistically significant negative association with medication adherence. In essence, higher amounts of stigma are correlated with an increased difficulty for an individual to consistently take their medication. 

A separate study conducted on youth living with HIV in Western Uganda also found alarming consequences. The report, published in Plos One, states that stigma relating to HIV has caused a variety of maladaptive responses in this young population, notably sex and substance abuse. This issue is especially relevant amongst youth, since those aged 15-24 are extremely vulnerable to stigma and often do not have as much control over their living situations. 

Another key point of tension is discrimination faced within the healthcare field and from healthcare providers themselves. Many healthcare providers are misinformed about HIV, and subscribe to harmful beliefs that affect the care that they give. A study performed on people living with HIV in Yogyakarta and Belu, Indonesia discovered that there was a high avoidance or unwillingness to treat those who were HIV positive due to the belief that the virus would be contracted, or due to other negative attitudes related to their sexuality and sexual activity. The sum of these negative beliefs has been found to lead to rejection of treatment, unnecessary referrals, the loss of private health insurance, and much more. A vicious cycle is created in which healthcare personnel avoid treating people living with HIV, and in turn, lead to these providers being less familiar with how to manage, interact with, and treat HIV patients. 

There are countless more studies and reports detailing the harmful consequences of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. Given this breadth of information, there has also been an increase in awareness campaigns and the call to action to destigmatize HIV and prevent these damaging effects from progressing any further. 

Designing and implementing interventions is not an easy task, but there already exists many ideas and collectives that are seeking to end the tirade of HIV stigma. In one clinic located in Nambia, a shift towards integrated health service delivery saw a 20% reduction in deaths among those living with HIV. UNAIDS argues that programs must be implemented to combat stigma and discrimination in order to increase access to services, testing and treatment. Even simply talking more openly about HIV can assist in normalizing the subject and reducing the stigma that surrounds it. Healthcare providers also ought to be trained and educated in HIV stigma in order to provide more equitable and adequate care. 

HIV stigma is an issue that dramatically affects people living with HIV all across the world. By implementing education, collective efforts, and breakthrough programs, the harmful crusade of HIV stigma can indeed be curbed, prevented, and turned around.