British South Africa

In some areas, HIV/AIDS and STDs in general are seen as some sort of witchcraft. This is a fairly common idea amongst the Zulu people. They use this as an explanation for the STDs because it is seen as an explanation for why some people get the disease, but others, even though they have had sex with the same person, do not. Similar to Nigeria, some see HIV/AIDS as a form of punishment for whatever behavioral or social problems exist.

HIV/AIDS, in general, carries a stigma with it. Those who are HIV positive are seen as somewhat worse people. They are sometimes shunned by their community and family. 

This stigma often times resulted in discrimination in the workplace, the lack of provision of proper health care, and overall exclusion from religious services, family event, and work events.Many people also are victims of both verbal and physical harassment.

The reasoning for this stigma is due to what HIV/AIDS bring. Normally, especially when HIV first made headlines, the result was certain death. Individuals fear what the do not understand. Originally, many people did not believe that HIV was the cause of AIDS and thus death.

Although the problem is getting better, and the understanding of the disease is growing, the problem is still relevant.  

Top Video:

      - Describes the issues with stigma and why the stigma exists

Bottom Video:

      - Describes acutal accounts of the stigma resulting in discrimintation