Stigma among HIV/AIDS patients in China

Introduction: HIV-related discrimination swept the globe accompanied by the HIV/AIDS virus. Patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are discriminated because they are linked to whoring, drug abuse, sexual behaviour – men who have sex with men (MSM), and sexual promiscuity worldwide. AIDS has been discriminated as a result of being considered as a “gay plague” followed by the AIDS epidemic for a long period. In recent years, it is been getting worse in China. Aim of the study was to realise the current status of HIV-related stigma and discrimination and its research in China by literature retrieval.

Material and methods: We searched databases including PubMed, Elsevier, CNKI, WangFang Data, and VIP from 2005 to May 2016, to identify studies involving discrimination against HIV/AIDS patients.

Results: On the whole, discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS mainly comes from inner discrimination and external discrimination. Inner discrimination includes self-discrimination and perceived discrimination, and external discrimination is mainly from five fields: medical and reproductive health, school, work and housing, passive and physical harassment of HIV and their family members, and violation of rights and health treatment.

Conclusions: Although there has been remarkable progress in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in China, HIV-related stigma and discrimination remain enormous barriers to effectively fighting the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The discrimination can be relieved from three aspects including amending certain laws and regulations, strengthening the training of health personnel, and reinforcing dissemination of information related to HIV/AIDS.