Social Stigmas Against HIV Positive Individuals in Singapore
Tackling the global HIV and AIDS pandemic requires more than simply administering loaded cocktails of drugs to HIV positive individuals. To even administer and manage the HIV virus count in HIV positive individuals, they must be tested in the first place. They have to conjure up the courage to head down to a HIV clinic in Singapore and get tested for HIV.
Therein lies the problem: the actual need to “be brave” and head down to a HIV test following potential exposure. Pervasive social stigmas about HIV and AIDS in Singapore poses a real hindrance to efforts to manage and prevent the spread of this virus and disease.
This article will look at the existence of pervasive social stigmas against HIV positive individuals. While certainly not an opinion piece, this article will acknowledge of the need to address stigmas and misconceptions in Singapore to encourage more to test and be aware of their HIV status.
The existence of such stigmas has been established by an academic study based in Singapore. In 2001, a psychometric scale was developed to quantitively measure how HIV-positive individuals experienced stigmatisation from those around them. This scale, the HIV Stigma Scale, measures experiences from 4 categories of stigma “items”: enacted items, disclosure concerns, negative self-image and concerns with public attitudes.
497 individuals who tested HIV positive from 2010 – 2013 in Singapore were measured for the stigmas they faced, or at least felt they experienced. Results were not surprising.
Overall, the research concluded several findings about HIV stigmas in Singapore. The average HIV positive individual in this study felt more stigmatisation than individuals in India and Sweden, and stigma levels were almost as high as those in China. Furthermore, high stigma levels were apparent across Singapore’s society, and that educational initiatives in Singapore, while addressing the prevention of contracting HIV, was not doing enough to minimise stigmas against HIV positive individuals.
Such stigmatisation may discourage people from receiving treatment, much less so than heading down to a HIV clinic to test their status. It may even be enough to force them to default on their treatment.
Many of these stigmas and their physical manifestations can stem from a lack of knowledge about HIV and treatment options.
Another research into HIV infected individuals reveals more on their individual psychology, from receiving their diagnosis to going about their daily lives after. The dominant emotion across participants was shame. When being informed about their diagnosis, many felt they had acquired the disease and felt nothing but shame, reflecting the image of HIV as due to promiscuity and irresponsibility.
What’s more, participants reported feeling uncomfortable with themselves, one even calling himself a “diseased demon”, even knowing that medical treatment options were available to him. Many withdrew from their existing social groups and avoided informing family members, fearing discrimination and ostracisation from those closest to them.
They felt that their previous identity was destroyed, and they could no longer fulfil their previous social duties and roles due to their diagnosis. Even with the help of HIV treatments, they had to go about their lives with a permanent sense of shame, something to be kept hidden from the world.
There is no denying the dangers of HIV infections. However, there is a need for further education on HIV, as seen by the strong presence of stigmas against HIV positive individuals in Singapore. Stigmas are the last thing we need in the fight against this global pandemic. They discourage people from treatment or even finding out their HIV status.
