Botswana: Stigma and Women Living with HIV/AIDS

While in office, Botswana’s former Minister of Health publicly blamed women for the spread of HIV.  This is a widespread sentiment, as Botswana’s HIV-positive women frequently encounter discrimination and blame. For pregnant women living with HIV, stigma is particularly strong. Women who are HIV positive and become pregnant tend not to seek out prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services because of the stigma attached, and verbal abuse from service providers.  Health workers and clients report that stigma is so significant, they breastfeed children because formula use is associated with HIV. This is a widespread sentiment, as Botswana’s HIV-positive women frequently encounter discrimination and blame. 

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Source33 millionWorldwide there are approximately 33 million people living with HIV.

Source100 millionYoung people experience more than 100 million new cases of STIs each year.