HIV/AIDS-related Stigma is not a Myth in Kerala, India

Abstract

The stigma associated with HIV is the foremost barrier to HIV prevention,treatment, care and support (UNAIDS, 2014). It prevents people fromseeking information and services related to HIV/AIDS. The stigma hindersthe efforts to prevent new HIV infections, inhibits treatment adherenceand access to care and support programmes. AIDS stigma results ineconomic and social marginalisation and the withholding of treatment ordenial of services amounting to a violation of the human rights of peoplewith HIV (UNAIDS, 2000). The state of Kerala has been recognisedinternationally since the 1970s for its achievements in the developments inthe health sector. In many aspects, Kerala’s health status is on a par withthat of developed countries. Alhough the state has a higher literacy status,the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS is widespread inKerala. The present paper describes the extent of stigma and discrimination
faced by the women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHAs) in Kerala. Thispaper is based on a study conducted among 372 women living with HIV/AIDS to explore the extent of HIV-related stigma in the form of enacted,vicarious, felt normative and internalised stigma experiences and to envisagethe associated problems faced by them. The tool used to measure thesame was ‘the HIV-related stigma scale’ and the study found that HIV/AIDS-related stigma is still prevalent in Kerala, even among the healthcare workers. The study finds that the respondents experienced the enactedstigma and were asked to move out of their houses because of their HIVstatus. The vicarious stigma is also prevalent in Kerala and many of therespondents frequently heard about the incidents of HIV stigma and
discrimination in terms of mistreatment by hospital workers, untouchability,denial of treatment, revealing the HIV status by a health worker, refusal of
care by the family members when they were sick, disclosing HIV status bythemarking on records, avoidance of family members and ostracisation by
the community or the village. The study also finds that the respondentshad an experience with internalised stigma.