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. 2005 Aug;2(8):e247.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0020247. Epub 2005 Jul 19.

The stigma of being HIV-positive in Africa

William W Rankin  1 , Sean Brennan, Ellen Schell, Jones Laviwa, Sally H Rankin
Affiliations

The stigma of being HIV-positive in Africa

William W Rankin et al. PLoS Med. 2005 Aug.

Abstract

Rankin and colleagues argue that HIV-related stigma is fueling the epidemic, and disempowering women even further.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Kgalalelo Ntsepe, Who Was Named Miss HIV Stigma Free in 2003
In 2003, in Gaborone, Botswana, 14 women competed to become Miss HIV Stigma Free. The contest was won by Kgalalelo Ntsepe, who said: “It took a long time before I accepted my HIV status. At first, I almost wanted to kill myself. Eventually, I overcame my fears, even though my family and friends deserted me. But my church and my belief helped me to find a meaning in life again. I am Miss HIV Stigma Free. It's my responsibility to give strength to others. There's a life with HIV. There's life with AIDS.” (Photo: Copyright WORLD VISION/Sönke C. Weiss)
Figure 2
Figure 2. Village Caregivers
This photograph shows some of the local women who work with Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance village-level projects in Africa, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. These women teach people about HIV/AIDS, help care for orphaned children, and visit and care for each person ill with AIDS every day. In doing so, they have helped to break down stigma in their villages. (Photo: Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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