If you work with HIV programs in Ethiopia, you may want to ask yourself the following questions.
If your work is affected by stigma, you might find that the results of a recent research study will help your understanding of HIV-related stigma. The study is called Disentangling HIV and AIDS Stigma in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia: Findings From a Two-Year Research Study.
This report by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) presents the results of a multi-country effort to understand HIV stigma and its implications for programs and policy. The study involved extensive research - over 700 qualitative interviews and focus groups! - with community members, people living with HIV and AIDS, youth, religious leaders, health professionals, caregivers, educators, employers and NGO staff.
The report contains definitions of stigma and discrimination, comparative community-based studies on stigma, PLWHA's perspectives about and experiences with stigma and discrimination, causes of stigma, and different contexts in which stigma is experienced. Strategies for coping with stigma, consequences for programs in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, and recommendations for stigma reduction in programs are also provided.
The richest part of this report is its stories by persons living with HIV/AIDS, children, health providers, and the media. All of them talk about their experiences with stigma, which helps the reader understand how complex stigma is, and possible ways to fight stigma.
Download the Report:
The report can be downloaded (in PDF format) from the following link:
Disentangling HIV and AIDS Stigma in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia (ICRW, 2003)
Authors: Laura Nyblade, Rohini Pande, Sanyukta Mathur, Kerry MacQuarrie, Ross Kidd, Hailom Banteyerga, Akililu Kidanu, Gad Kilonzo, Jessie Mbwambo and Virginia Bond.
Additional Publications on Stigma and Discrimination in Ethiopia:
For additional information on this topic, check out these additional publications on stigma:
Exploring HIV/AIDS Stigma and Related Discrimination in Ethiopia: Causes, Manifestations, Consequences, and Coping Mechanisms. (Miz-Hasab Research Center, 2003)
Authors: Aklilu Kidanu, Hailom Banteyerga, and Laura Nyblade.
To receive a copy of this publication or ask questions, e-mail study author Aklilu Kidanu at miz_hasab@telecom.net.et
Addressing HIV-Related Stigma and Resulting Discrimination in Africa: A Three-Country Study in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia (ICRW, 2002)
Click on the link to explore this summary of the stigma reduction work of ICRW.