Stigma, Discrimination
and Living with HIV/AIDS
A Cross-Cultural Perspective
1
,Editor
Pranee Liamputtong
School of Public Health
La Trobe University
Bundoora, VIC, Australia
ISBN 978-94-007-6323-4 ISBN 978-94-007-6324-1 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6324-1
Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg New York London
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013936735
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of
the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation,
broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information
storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection
with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and
executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this
publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s
location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer.
Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations
are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication
does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant
protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of
publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for
any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with
respect to the material contained herein.
Printed on acid-free paper
Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
, To my parents: Saeng and Yindee Liamputtong
and
To my children:
Zoe Sanipreeya and Emma Inturatana Rice
Preface
HIV/AIDS was first recognized in the early 1980s and since then it has provoked
forceful reactions from others. From the onset of the epidemic, HIV/AIDS has been
seen not only as a medical condition but also as a stigmatized state. Despite the
fact that society now has better understanding about the causes and impacts of
HIV/AIDS, stigma and discrimination continue to exist. As Goffman (1963: 70)
warns, “familiarity need not reduce contempt”. Numerous studies have pointed to
the pervasive nature of stigma and discrimination experienced by persons living
with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and their families. This can be seen in many journal
articles and reports which have been written to portray stigma and discrimination
which occur with PLWHA in many parts of the world. However, there is a lack of a
recent book which attempts to put together results from empirical research relating
to stigma and discrimination which people living with HIV/AIDS have experienced.
This book is written with the intention to fill this gap.
The focus of this book is on issues relevant to stigma and discrimination which
have occurred to individuals and groups in different parts of the globe as well as
how these individuals and groups attempt to deal with HIV/AIDS. Apart from
some theoretical papers situated at the beginning of this volume, most chapters are
3
, written by researchers who carry out their research in different parts of the world.
These chapters contain empirical information which is based on real-life situations.
This information will provide first-hand knowledge to many of us to have better
understanding about the lived experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS. It can
also be used as a means for PLWHA to deal with stigma and discrimination better and
as a resource for healthcare providers to implement socially and culturally appropriate
services to assist individuals and groups who are living with HIV/AIDS in many
societies. It is my hope that information contained in this volume will, in the near
future, help to reduce, and perhaps eradicate, stigma and discrimination that many
PLWHA have experienced.
The book will be of interest to healthcare providers who are interested in working
with individuals and groups who are living with HIV/AIDS from a cross-cultural
perspective. In particular, it will assist health workers in community health centres and
vii
and Living with HIV/AIDS
A Cross-Cultural Perspective
1
,Editor
Pranee Liamputtong
School of Public Health
La Trobe University
Bundoora, VIC, Australia
ISBN 978-94-007-6323-4 ISBN 978-94-007-6324-1 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6324-1
Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg New York London
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013936735
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of
the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation,
broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information
storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection
with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and
executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this
publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s
location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer.
Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations
are liable to prosecution under the respective Copyright Law.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication
does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant
protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of
publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for
any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with
respect to the material contained herein.
Printed on acid-free paper
Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
, To my parents: Saeng and Yindee Liamputtong
and
To my children:
Zoe Sanipreeya and Emma Inturatana Rice
Preface
HIV/AIDS was first recognized in the early 1980s and since then it has provoked
forceful reactions from others. From the onset of the epidemic, HIV/AIDS has been
seen not only as a medical condition but also as a stigmatized state. Despite the
fact that society now has better understanding about the causes and impacts of
HIV/AIDS, stigma and discrimination continue to exist. As Goffman (1963: 70)
warns, “familiarity need not reduce contempt”. Numerous studies have pointed to
the pervasive nature of stigma and discrimination experienced by persons living
with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and their families. This can be seen in many journal
articles and reports which have been written to portray stigma and discrimination
which occur with PLWHA in many parts of the world. However, there is a lack of a
recent book which attempts to put together results from empirical research relating
to stigma and discrimination which people living with HIV/AIDS have experienced.
This book is written with the intention to fill this gap.
The focus of this book is on issues relevant to stigma and discrimination which
have occurred to individuals and groups in different parts of the globe as well as
how these individuals and groups attempt to deal with HIV/AIDS. Apart from
some theoretical papers situated at the beginning of this volume, most chapters are
3
, written by researchers who carry out their research in different parts of the world.
These chapters contain empirical information which is based on real-life situations.
This information will provide first-hand knowledge to many of us to have better
understanding about the lived experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS. It can
also be used as a means for PLWHA to deal with stigma and discrimination better and
as a resource for healthcare providers to implement socially and culturally appropriate
services to assist individuals and groups who are living with HIV/AIDS in many
societies. It is my hope that information contained in this volume will, in the near
future, help to reduce, and perhaps eradicate, stigma and discrimination that many
PLWHA have experienced.
The book will be of interest to healthcare providers who are interested in working
with individuals and groups who are living with HIV/AIDS from a cross-cultural
perspective. In particular, it will assist health workers in community health centres and
vii
