Stigma,AIDS, and HIV Prevention in Africa: Reports from Community Organizations Providing Prevention Services |
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| Authors: | Eric G Benotsch PhD David W Seal L Yvonne Stevenson Cheryl Sitzler Jeffrey A Kelly Laura M Bogart |
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| Institution: | 1. University of Colorado at Denver &2. Health Sciences Center , Denver, CO;3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine , Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin , Milwaukee, WI;4. RAND Corporation , Santa Monica, CA |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT The AIDS epidemic in Africa remains a serious health crisis. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa play a critical role in the delivery of HIV prevention services. An important barrier to their HIV prevention efforts is stigma directed at persons living with HIV/AIDS. In order to understand how stigma affects HIV prevention programming, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with NGO directors in 29 African countries. Qualitative analytic approaches were used to identify key themes. Substantial discrimination and stigmatization of HIV-positive persons was reported. HIV-positive women were particularly likely to suffer negative social and economic consequences. The stigma associated with HIV interfered with disclosure of HIV status, risk-reduction behaviors, and HIV testing, creating significant barriers to HIV prevention efforts. Interventions to reduce AIDS-related stigma in Africa are urgently needed. Reducing the burden of stigma is critical to fighting the epidemic in Africa and could play an important role in global HIV reduction. |
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| Keywords: | Stigma HIV prevention Africa community psychology nongovernmental organizations |
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