Piecing it Together for Women and Girls: The Gender Dimensions of HIV-related Stigma

Publish Year
2011
Publisher
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)
Author Name
Osborne K., Tremlett L., Welbourn A., Hale F., Vazquez M.
Description

This publication provides evidence on the gender dimensions of HIV-related stigma and how this stigma affects women differently than man in Ethiopia, Dominican Republic and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, over half of women have experienced stigma from a friend or neighbour: 87 per cent have decided not to get married as a result of their HIV status; and nearly a fifth feel suicidal. In Ethiopia only 45 per cent of women have disclosed their status to their partner or husband; over a half have low self esteem; and 44 per cent have been advised by a health worker not to have a child due to being HIV-positive. In the Dominican Republic, a fifth of women living with HIV have been coerced in to being sterilized; 60 per cent fear being the subject of gossip; and nearly a quarter did not, while pregnant, receive ARV drugs for the prevention of mother- to-child transmission; 75 percent of women gave support to others living with HIV.