Disentangling HIV/AIDS Stigma in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia

From the publication

"In many developing countries, stigma and discrimination together pose one of the most significant challenges to stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS. People known to have HIV often are isolated and the targets of gossip and name-calling. They can lose status and decision-making power in the household and community, many are shunned by family and friends, and they frequently lose their jobs and sometimes their housing.

From April 2001 to September 2003, the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) led a study of HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in three African countries: Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia. ICRW's research partners were the Miz-Hasab Research Center in Ethiopia; the Department of Psychiatry, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences (MUCHS) in Tanzania; and Zambart1 and Kara Counseling and Training Trust (KCTT) in Zambia.

This project unraveled the complexities around stigma by investigating the causes, manifestations and consequences of HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in sub-Saharan Africa. It then used this analysis to suggest program interventions."

The report discusses these and other findings, based on a 3-year study of HIV/AIDS-related stigma.