Stigma Beliefs Form Behaviour

This 16-page report describes some of the "unacknowledged unconscious" beliefs underlying discriminatory behaviour against those living with HIV or AIDS. According to the authors, a number of counter-active measures are discussed where people are described as "urgently" calling for laws and policies to curtail or prevent HIV/AIDS stigma. The authors contend that without examining the roots of stigma, and attempting to understand its nature, making structural changes is a "useless exercise." The authors suggest that examining the core of any behavior causing individuals or groups to behave in a specific manner is a necessary step. Once those beliefs are stripped away, only then can counteracting stigma be effective.

The authors suggest that at a social and community level, it is critical that people hear and see that "it is possible to live well with HIV for many years
and that the infected individual can, and will, add to the collective resource base for a long time, if she or he is supported in staying healthy." And they further their point by stating, "don’t expect people to care about you if you do not care about yourself."

The authors assert that from a developing world perspective the greatest obstacle to wearing condoms is when people ask “how can I have children if I always wear a condom?” While the report points to the successful case of condom use for youth and commercial sex workers who have non-procreational intentions, the message for cases where there is a procreational intention is that condom promotions have had little impact.

The authors point out that in almost every country affected by HIV/AIDS, stigma has endured up until the point where there are too many people infected or ill to ignore. The authors suggest that to combat this reality, a range of public profiling should be carried out that includes people living with HIV, both healthily and with illness.

The report concludes by stating that stigma is often one of two things. Either the result of social fragmentation, or the opportunity for a revival of a new social order based upon greater compassion and understanding. The authors suggest that the only way forward is is to challenge people's beliefs. They ask, "What are those values we want to share? How do we want to live? Unlike past generations, we cannot say “For my children I want …” If we wait and delay, it will be too late. This time, we need to start with “For me, and my children, I want …”