Prejudice and AIDS: the views and experiences of people with HIV infection

Discrimination against people on the basis of physical or mental infirmity is common and creates a considerable burden for sufferers. There has been considerable debate about the prejudice against people with disease resulting from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This study reports on the views and experiences of stigmatization by 192 outpatients with HIV infection interviewed at two London teaching hospitals. Despite reticence about discussing their infection, one quarter of patients had received negative reactions from confidants. The implications for health and social policies are discussed.