Stigma and discrimination experiences of HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

Since the primary mode of HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa is heterosexual, research focusing on the sexual behaviour of men who have sex with men (MSM) is scant. Currently it is unknown how many people living with HIV in South Africa are MSM and there is even less known about the stigmatisation and discrimination of HIV-positive MSM. The current study examined the stigma and discrimination experiences of MSM living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Anonymous venue-based surveys were collected from 92 HIV-positive MSM and 330 HIV-positive men who only reported sex with women (MSW). Internalised stigma was high among all HIV-positive men who took part in the survey, with 56% of men reporting that they concealed their HIV status from others. HIV-positive MSM reported experiencing greater social isolation and discrimination resulting from being HIV-positive, including loss of housing or employment due to their HIV status, however these differences were not significant. Mental health interventions, as well as structural changes for protection against discrimination, are needed for HIV-positive South African MSM.

Keywords:

• South Africa
• men who have sex with men (MSM)
• HIV-positive
• AIDS-related stigma
• discrimination

Notes

1. Schurink and Schurink (1990) reported on the change of sexual behaviour of gay men in the context of the rising HIV epidemic. Pegge (1995), for example, described the lives of the lesbian and gay communities in South Africa with specific attention to the lives of gay men in Cape Town. In addition, Isaacs and McKendrick (1992) looked at the implications of the HIV epidemic for gay communities in South Africa.