Impact of HIV Related Stigma and Discrimination on Working Women in Sub Sahara Africa
This chapter surveys current literature and found that women constitute 60 of people living with HIV/AIDS in Sub Saharan Africa due mainly to cultural practices. Working women living with the disease are subjected to violence by their employers and co workers as a direct result of HIV related stigma and discrimination. Workplace violence includes unauthorised disclosure of HIV status, unfair dismissal, victimisation and harassment and social isolation. These were found to have significant impact on the wellbeing of the working women (Asante AD, Scaling up HIV prevention: why routine or mandatory testing is not feasible for sub Saharan Africa. Bull World Health Organization 85(8):569 648. http:/www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/85/8/06 037671/en/index.html. Online access 18 Dec 2012, 2007; GNP 2012; WHO, Gender, women and health: gender inequalities and HIV. http:/www.who.int/gender/hiv_aids/en/ Online access 28 Nov 2012, 2012; AVERT, Introduction HIV and AIDS information, International HIV Charity. http:/www.avert.org/aids hiv education.htm. Online access Jan 2013, 2012; AVERT, Women and HIV/AIDS, AVERTING HIV and AIDS, International HIV and AIDS Charity. http:/www.avert.org/women hiv aids.htm. Online access May 2013, 2012; UNESCO, Women, girls and HIV and AIDS Education. Women's Economic Empowerment and Workplace Violence. http:/www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/BSP/GENDER/Images/Women%20Girls%20HIV%20Education%20and%20Workplace_Joint%20paper_FINAL.pdf. Online access 20 Sept 2012, 2012) Building on the knowledge already present in the literature, that ignorance produces stigma and discrimination, this author argues that the women will continue to suffer the impact of stigma and discrimination as long as ignorance exist in the workplace. Thus, chapter proposes workplace policy and programmes to minimise the impact of HIV related stigma and discrimination the working women.