The Stigma of People Living with HIV/AIDS

The results are four-fold: First, the community of Malakal lack adequate knowledge of HIV/AIDS and such low knowledge of the disease has resulted in misconceptions towards persons living with it. Secondly, the PLWHA have developed negative attitudes in their relationships with the community, by denying the reality of living with the disease. Thirdly, the community perceives the PLWHA as different from themselves, people from whom they should distance themselves. Fourthly, there is great fear of HIV/AIDS which hinders the common person from discussing issues related to HIV/AIDS.The findings of this study have shown that to succeed in combating HIV/AIDS one has to tackle the challenges posed by the stigma associated with the epidemic; otherwise the efforts to provide care, treatment and prevention will not have an impact and ultimately impede efforts to defeat HIV/AIDS in the world.