Experiences of stigma

Many people have fears, prejudices or negative attitudes about HIV. Stigma can result in people living with HIV being rejected, gossiped about and excluded from social activities. See also our sections on Combatting stigma and Discrimination and the law.

Other topics in this section

Experiences of stigma: latest news

Experiences of stigma resources

  • What is stigma?

    Stigma means different things to different people. One dictionary’s definition is: “The shame or disgrace attached to something regarded as socially unacceptable.” There may be a feeling of ‘us...

    From: Booklets

    Information level Level 2

  • Other people’s stories

    There are also some websites in which people with HIV have written first-hand accounts of their experiences and feelings. On other websites, you can watch videos of people...

    From: Booklets

    Information level Level 2

  • The negative impact on public health

    In recent years a number of organisations have published papers, monographs and policy documents highlighting ways in which using the criminal law to address potential or actual...

    From: HIV & the criminal law

    Information level Level 4

Experiences of stigma features

Experiences of stigma in your own words

Experiences of stigma news from aidsmap

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Experiences of stigma news selected from other sources

  • Almost Half Of Brits Would Feel Uncomfortable Kissing Someone With HIV

    The research from sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust also found 64% of Brits would feel uncomfortable having sex with someone living with HIV (even if they’re on treatment) and 41% of Brits believe anyone with HIV can pass it on. These attitudes persist despite huge medical progress meaning people on effective HIV treatment plans cannot pass it on.

    04 July 2019 | Huffington Post

  • In Haiti, gay men infected with HIV are targets of discrimination

    Despite many public health interventions in the region, people in Haiti that are infected with HIV are vulnerable to stigmatisation, particularly sexual minorities. The latter suffer considerable ostracism, which prevents access to care.

    01 July 2019 | The Conversation

  • Facing discrimination and ignorance, Hongkongers living with HIV want better education to debunk myths on disease

    HIV-positive people in the city say they have encountered hostility in hospitals and in society. Activists urge government to give more support to education programmes and help destigmatise those with the disease.

    25 June 2019 | South China Morning Post

  • My PrEP Story: KUCHENGA (part 2)

    When a friend stays over, I notice the flash glance in the morning as I dole out my PrEP meds, hormones and vitamins from my divider and down them with citrus juice. Silence doesn’t ‘always’ speak volumes but in this case it does.

    11 June 2019 | Prepster

  • People living with HIV forced to explain how they got it for insurance

    Insurance companies are still probing people living with HIV to explain how they contracted it on application forms. Many are being put off taking out insurance because they find it distressing answering such an invasive and ‘unnecessary’ question.

    23 May 2019 | Metro

  • Why the infected blood enquiry matters

    Our infection through medical treatment for haemophilia caused the media to obsess about our ‘innocence’ in getting HIV and, even if they did not say it out loud, everyone could guess who the ‘guilty’ were.

    10 May 2019 | National AIDS Trust

  • Challenging My Own Bigotry

    An HIV-negative gay man confronts his history with men living with the virus.

    25 April 2019 | Poz

  • Ageing with HIV: Testimonials of Stigma and Discrimination in Healthcare Settings

    So frequent were the stories that emerged of poor understanding and stigmatising attitudes to people with HIV from professionals working in medical services outside their HIV clinic, and so strong the fears of how people might be treated in these settings, that many participants with HIV reported a strong reluctance to access services which they needed for their ongoing good health, from surgery to dentistry and maternity services. These stories come from all parts of Europe.

    25 April 2019 | EATG

  • Confidentiality breaches, stigma and a lack of time are stopping men in Côte d’Ivoire from getting tested and treated for HIV

    Interviews with men in Côte d’Ivoire reveal radical differences in the perceptions of those who do and don’t access care. Research, published in PLOS ONE, found many of the worries of men out of care are not reflected in the experiences of those with regular contact with services. Men’s perceptions were linked with their level of engagement with HIV care, with men who have regular contact with HIV testing and treatment services displaying more positive attitudes than those with little or no contact with such services. The paper can be seen at https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0211385

    24 April 2019 | AVERT

  • HIV Stigma Makes Zambian Mothers Think Twice About Exclusive Breastfeeding

    In Zambia, women who are HIV-positive are encouraged to exclusively breastfeed their babies, but those mothers say extended breastfeeding is a telltale sign that they have the virus.

    15 April 2019 | Global Press Journal
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Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.