The historical and current role of stigma in the provision of HIV and AIDS care

The historical and current role of stigma in the provision of HIV and AIDS care

In Ghana, the HIV and AIDS pandemic is not very different from that in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ghana is one of the Sub-Saharan countries located in the Western part of Africa. However, Ghana differs from other Sub-Saharan countries in terms of HIV and AIDS prevalence. The country has considerably low rates of HIV and AIDS. The implication is that new cases of HIV infections are decreasing. In addition, the statistics show that Ghana has improved slightly in managing HIV and AIDS. The improvement is attributed to the government’s efforts in combating the disease. The government of Ghana focuses on the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS, which has resulted in impressive statistics. For instance, the government enhanced public awareness campaigns on the disease, which created public understanding of the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS. Additionally, the government emphasized the provision of VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) services to the population in the urban and rural areas.

Apart from the government’s efforts, the international community and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have played significant roles in the management of HIV and AIDS in Ghana.

Despite the decrease in new infections in Ghana, there have been various challenges. Like many other countries, Ghana has experienced diverse shortcomings in the management of HIV and AIDS. Initially, people infected with HIV and AIDS lacked options. In essence, the government failed to offer adequate facilities such as voluntary counseling and testing services, as well as access to widely distributed antiretroviral medications for people living with HIV and AIDS. People living with HIV and AIDS were initially ignored, which increased the risk of transmission. Even after the government started providing HIV and AIDS support services and facilities, the services were unfairly disseminated across the country. The rural areas experienced the greatest challenges in accessing such facilities and services. Actually, the rural areas faced a deficiency of health facilities. On the other hand, the urban centers had well-equipped health facilities. In principle, communities living in urban areas emerged better off in the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS compared to the rural residents.

Apart from poor infrastructure and healthcare services, stigmatization remains the other main challenge in the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS in Ghana. Stigmatization refers to the negative reactions towards those who are infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. Stigmatization of HIV and AIDS is not unique to Ghana and is experienced across the world (Whetten et al., 2008). However, the level and nature of stigmatization in different parts of the world differ based on the cultural, religious, and social systems. In Ghana, religion, and culture play significant roles in HIV and AIDS stigmatization (Parker & Aggleton, 2003). The rate of HIV and AIDS stigmatization has changed over time. In the past, the prevalence of stigmatization registered soaring rates across the whole country. However, stigmatization has reduced over time given the growing awareness of the disease.

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Ghana is a country that is based on morals that are strongly influenced by Christianity and Islam. Every individual is expected to live according to the set of moral principles. In fact, those who go against these moral principles are seen as deviants and what follows is prejudice from the community. To begin with, some of the behaviors that attract prejudice from society include prostitution, drug abuse, childhood pregnancy, and homosexuality. Undeniably, these factors all play a role in HIV and AIDS stigmatization. In Ghana, people who engage in such behaviors are stigmatized and HIV is explained by supernatural causes. The relationship between HIV and AIDS occurs due to the close association of such behaviors with the risk of contracting HIV and AIDs. HIV and AIDS are contracted through sexual intercourse and other factors. Within Ghanaian society, sex is a subject that connotes morality. Sex is considered a preserve for those who are legally married. Therefore, sex outside marriage is considered immoral (USAID, Morrison & POLICY Project, 2006; Mill & Anarfi, 2002).

Based on the above reality, people infected with HIV were considered prostitutes, homosexuals, drug users, and adulterers (Ulasi et al., 2009). The implication of such consideration exposed people engaged in these behaviors to double stigmatization when they were infected with HIV and AIDS. HIV and AIDS stigmatization in Ghana is present in several ways (Mawar et al., 2005). Prejudice, abuse, violence, and discrimination are some