Effects of Labelling Process, Stigma And Stereotype Toward Malaysian Women with HIV Positive

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the labelling process including stigma and stereotype that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) women patients must go through. The stigma stems from a lack of knowledge and understanding of HIV itself. It is even worse when HIV positive people are also associated with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) even though not all HIV positive people have AIDS. Data were collected from 20 women with HIV positive in Besut, Terengganu and Pasir Puteh, Bachok and Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Purposive sampling with some help from key informant were used to get the total of 20 respondents. Result of the study indicated that those women experience severe stigma, stereotyping and negative labels even though they were not involved in any immoral activities but instead they are a victim, in which the infection came from their own husband. Some people who are not emotionally strong enough to face the negative perceptions and judgement made by the society cause them to live in fear, anxiety, isolation, depression, and some choose to quit their job and lives, avoid getting proper treatment, meeting, and interacting with others. It is not easy to ensure that society do not label or stigmatize HIV positive patients. But it is the duty of all parties to provide knowledge of Positive HIV and it is a disease that is not easily transmitted to the public. So, there is no reason for the public to fear and punish the patients.