Prevalence of stigmatizing attitude among urban middle class in Maharashtra: Implications for HIV/AIDS education strategy

Abstract

People living with HIV/AIDS received negative response from community largely because of misconceptions and lack of knowledge about the disease. Stigma acts as a major obstruction in the rehabilitation of people infected and affected by HIV in India. A persistently negative societal response plays a critical role in the experiences of individuals infected with the virus. Therefore stigma and discrimination are of concern to AIDS programmes. According to the UNAIDS report in 2006 nearly 5.2 million people in the age group of 15-49 years are living with HIV in India. Denial by the society or health care system will pose a serious threat to the ongoing prevention support and care strategies. The stigma related to HIV has been well documented in the past; however this study attempts to understand the perceptions opinions and attitudes of the urban educated and middle-income community members towards HIV positive individuals. HIV-related stigma has been categorized into four specific areas. The operational definitions are (i) attribution of blame which is defined as blaming the HIV positive individual for his/her condition (ii) violation of rights which is defined as denial of rights to employment health care and maintaining confidentiality about the HIV status (iii) stigma in interaction which is prevalent when respondents answer negatively to formal interactions or communication with HIV positive individuals (e.g. handshake buying grocery being served in a restaurant etc.) and (iv) stigma at workplace which is demonstrated by respondents by refusing to share or work with HIV positive individuals in a formal set-up and insisting on compulsory testing of the disease prior to employment and termination from jobs upon testing positive. (excerpt)