Perspectives on HIV stigma in Asia and Middle East: Legal protections, ethical considerations, and public health solutions

Statistics show high rates of HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths from the emergence of the epidemic in the 1980s to the present day.Women and girls accounted for 53% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2023 and represented 44% of all new infections.Although the incidence of HIV among children has decreased, progress has stalled in recent years (1,2).Stigma and discrimination against PLHIV are recognized as significant barriers to providing quality services and achieving universal access to healthcare.However, these barriers have not been adequately addressed in policies and laws (3).A Stigma Index Survey conducted in 25 countries revealed that approximately 25% of PLHIV experienced stigma when seeking non-HIV healthcare services in the past year (4).Furthermore, research continues to indicate stigmatization of PLHIV even by healthcare providers (HCPs).In a 2021 qualitative study conducted in Indonesia, some HCPs admitted to stigmatizing and discriminating against PLHIV due to low knowledge, fear of HIV transmission, and personal, cultural, and religious beliefs and values (5).