Types of stigma | |
Discrimination | Enacted stigma; what people do to unfairly disadvantage known or suspected HIV positive persons, such as exclusion from shared activities |
Anticipated stigma | The stigma people expect from others if they were known to be HIV positive |
Self-stigma | Internalised feelings of shame or blame derived from accepting stigmatising judgements of one’s identity |
Secondary stigma | Stigma which, by association, affects those related to the infected |
Sources of stigma | |
Burden | Stigma derived from the inability of individuals to conduct productive activities and look after themselves, leading them to be perceived as a “drain of resources” |
Fear | Stigma derived from the fear of being infected by HIV through casual or sexual contact |
Blame | Stigma derived from the association of HIV with negatively defined behaviours or groups in society, which are subsequently blamed for their infection |
Source: Based on Deacon H (2005) Understanding HIV/AIDS stigma. A theoretical and methodological analysis. Research Monograph. London: HSRC Press, 2005.