Perceptions of stakeholders on drivers of stigma subjected to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Alice town, Eastern Cape: Implications for human rights and social service professions

Abstract

Despite global HIV/AIDS stigma going down significantly, South Africa continues to experience both internal and external stigma that is believed to derail people’s rights to prevention and response. It is therefore important to establish the drivers of stigma and the human rights deficit they pose to the PLWHA and to social workers. The article, through informal community engagements, sought to tap the insights of selected stakeholders on the drivers of stigma in Alice town and its environs. The study comprised thirty-three participants, eight of whom were engaged in in-depth interviews while 25 of them were involved in four focus group discussions. Coding facilitated the selection and establishment of themes. Findings established that stigma was driven by ignorance pertaining to the AIDS aetiology and epidemiology; weaker campaign infrastructure in the rural areas; poverty of the people; denialism and myths. The article has used the philosophy of Ubuntu to suggest how to tackle HIV/AIDS stigma. The article recommends more research on drivers of stigma. Collaboration, as well as a synergy between different stakeholders in the HIV/AIDS arena, is recommended.