HIV/AIDS-Related Stigma and Discrimination Among Adolescents in Botswana

The primary goal of this study is to examine and determine factors influencing stigmatisation and discrimination among adolescents towards people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana. HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination result from fear, ignorance, and denial. There exists little or no research in Botswana dealing with how people living with HIV/AIDS or suspected of having HIV/AIDS are perceived and treated. Data analysed in this paper are taken from the Botswana AIDS Impact Survey conducted in the year 2001. Both descriptive and multivariate logistic regression models are used to analyse the data. The results show that many of the adolescents expressed negative attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS. Logistic regression analysis shows that misconceptions about HIV transmission often encourage stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS. Interestingly, although the majority of the adolescents stigmatise and discriminate against PLWA, many of them are willing to care for a family member who has HIV/AIDS. There is need to address issues of stigma and discrimination as part of prevention of further spread of HIV/AIDS in Botswana