STIGMA AND HIV/AIDS

STIGMA AND HIV/AIDS

Stigma stems from the human proclivity to judge themselves and others. Based on those judgments, we categorize or stereotype people not necessarily based on factual or actual circumstances or evidence but on what we society deem as inappropriate, unusual shameful or unacceptable. Stigmatization occurs in all aspects to human life. A person can be stigmatised because of anything from disease, birth defects and mental illnesses to sexual preference. Occupation and economic status.

Stigma can be associated with a wide variety of diseases. In today stigma connotes ignominy a discrediting effect an ``undesired differentness. ’Theoretically stigma can be defined as the imposition of special, discrediting and unwanted mark on person or specific category of persons in such a way that they are looked at fundamentally and ``shamefully different’’. The mark of imposed on people who have or are believed to have a distinctive status or a`` deviances’ ‘as it is called in sociology. The mark is usually non –material but in certain instances, the differentiation process has gone as far as translating material things e.g. Mutilation to human body and tattoos brand. In these cases stigmatized persons are not only looked at as different they appear unmistakably different. Their differences show sometimes confinement in specially designated areas is also used as a material way to visualize the differences and to draw a boundary that separates from human beings.

                        HIV-related stigma refers to all unfavourable attitudes, beliefs and polices directed towards people perceived to have HIV/AIDS as well as towards their significant others and loved ones. Close associates, social groups and communities patterns of prejudice which include devaluating, discounting, discrediting and discriminating against these groups of people. Play  into and strengthen existing social inequalities especially those of gender, sexuality and race that are at the root of HIV –related stigma. HIV infection fits the profile of a condition that carries a high level of stigmatization. AIDS-related sigma refers to the prejudice and discrimination directed at people living with HIV/AIDS and communities that are associated with it. AIDS stigma is expressed around the world in variety of ways including ostracism, rejection and voidance of discrimination and violence against compulsory HIV testing without prior consent or protection of confidentiality and quarantine of a person with HIV. AIDS stigma inflicts suffering on people and interferes with attempts to fight the epidemic. HIV/AIDS related stigmatization starts as soon as information regarding a person’s serostatus is known. It is  the process whereby the person is looked at in many different ways all of them negative and judgmental soon after he/she is  known  or suspected to be HIV Positive. In conclusion stigma cannot take you far moreover love each other knowing that stigmatization is a bad enemy to society.