Discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS

Description

Discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS is the experience of prejudice against PLHIV which falls within the purview of the law. Discrimination is one manifestation of stigma. Stigmatizing, attitudes, and behaviors may fall under the rubric of discrimination depending on the legislation of a particular country. HIV/AIDS stigma exists around the world in a variety of many ways, including ostracism, rejection, discrimination and avoidance of HIV infected people; compulsory HIV testing without prior consent or protection of confidentiality; violence against HIV infected individuals or people who are perceived to be infected with HIV; the quarantine of HIV infected individuals and, in some cases, the loss of property rights when a spouse dies. Stigma-related violence or the fear of violence prevents many people from seeking HIV testing, returning for their results, or securing treatment, possibly turning what could be a manageable chronic illness into a death sentence and perpetuating the spread of HIV. HIV/AIDS stigma has been further divided into the following three categories: ⁕Instrumental AIDS stigma—a reflection of the fear and apprehension that are likely to be associated with any deadly and transmissible illness. (via Freebase)