Maretha Visser|J.D. Makin|Alain Vandormael|Kathleen J. Sikkema|Brian Forsyth
HIV/AIDS stigma in a South African community
University of Pretoria|University of Pretoria|University of Pretoria|Yale University|Yale University
abstract hivaidsrelated stigma threatens undermine interventions prevent treat hivaids address stigma south african community thorough understanding nature stigma specific cultural context needed goals research assess level stigmatising attitudes among members community compare level stigma perceived exist within community determine extent stigmatising attitudes affected sociodemographic characteristics hivrelated experience cultural beliefs questionnaire completed 1077 respondents key areas two communities tshwane south africa questionnaire included assessment hivrelated experience hivknowledge personal stigma perceptions stigma within community findings indicate level personal stigma significantly lower perceived present community respondents stigmatising older male less educated less knowledgeable hiv less likely know someone hiv traditional cultural viewpoints sociodemographic cultural factors difficult change efforts aimed increasing peoples knowledge experience epidemic occurring community could change level stigmatising attitudes within community efforts could potential benefits addressing epidemic providing greater support hiv