Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of People Living with HIV/AIDS: The Social Responses in Association with Stigma and Discrimination

This study aims at determining the sexual and reproductive health needs as well as to reveal the level and manifestation of stigma and discrimination associated with the daily lives of the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) at Khulna City Area in Bangladesh. In terms of medium of HIV infection, extra marital sexual relationships (35%), partners’ infection (30%) and blood transmission (15%) played a dominant role.The study shows that PLWHA experienced stigma and discrimination at family, community and social life. Apart from partners and family their secrecy of HIV status was reveled without their consent to friends and relatives, local leaders and religious leaders or priest. More than half of total PLWHA excluded from the social and religious function or practices after the infection of HIV/AIDS but the experience of whispering was a predominant phenomenon.The facts of stigma and discrimination, the restriction placed on their free movement, exclusion from social and religious functions, opportunities and participation on the social and economic process had direct and often malign consequences for the PLWHAs daily life.

Subrata Kumar Mallick is now serving as a Lecturer in Sociology at Rani Bhawani Government Women’s College, Natore-Bangladesh. He has completed his Masters in Social Science in Sociology from Khulna University. He is involved in creative writing and have a great empathy towards social research and other related issues.