The Ongoing Sociological Issues of Stigma and Discrimination in HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination: A Review and Analysis Through the Conflict Theory Your Name Subject and Section Professor’s Name Date Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been some of the biggest threats to humanity's health. By December 2022, there were roughly 39 million worldwide who had acquired HIV. Among these numbers were 1.5 million children (World Health Organization, 2023). Due to the global efforts to fight this, in 2010, only around 1.3 million were infected, comprising a 38% decrease in numbers from previous years. The HIV-related fatalities have also reduced to half to 630,000 in 2022, demonstrating the profound impact of enhanced access to healthcare, particularly antiretroviral therapy (ART) (World Health Organization, 2024). This topic has been chosen because it is relevant to society, and ignorance of this health problem means ignorance of it socially. Furthermore, this global health issue calls for the need to fight against HIV/AIDS, underscoring the critical importance of continued medical, social, and policy efforts to manage and eventually eliminate this epidemic. Stigma Towards People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (PLHIV) Definition of Stigma Stigma is the process of labeling, ostracizing, and marginalizing individuals with nasty attributes recognized in society (Merriam-Webster, 2024b). Evidence From Literature In their seminal research, Fauk et al. (2021) describe several cases where people with HIV are excluded and even mistreated because of the virus in different settings, workplaces, and healthcare. They particularly recall scenarios where the subjects reported being marginalized and physically excluded from group events and family functions based on their HIV-positive status, which affected their mental health and social inclusion significantly (p. 123). Schraer (2021) also reveals the life experiences of PLHIV. For instance, Doreen Moraa Moracha, a PLHIV, who fell victim to a con man who claimed to have a miracle HIV treatment. This misinformation made her discontinue her vital ART, and she developed various health complications, such as shingles and pneumonia, owing to her frail immune system. Analyzing Stigma Through the Lens of Social Identity Theory According to Social Identity Theory, stigma against HIV can develop because people classify themselves and others and view HIV-positive people as belonging to the less desirable out-group (Damkier & Ozer, 2022). Discrimination Against PLHIV Definition of Discrimination Discrimination includes the perception of bias and rejection from others because of a particular attribute and the experience of actual stigmatization (Merriam-Webster, 2024a). Evidence From Literature Hedge et al. (2021) describe HIV-related discrimination, even in the age of adequate medical treatment and improved knowledge about the disea...