| 1 |
Grace said that people with HIV/AIDS should not fear to join TASO ‘to help them kill the stigma’ |
| 7 |
She said she feels out of place at social gatherings (parties, weddings, religious events) because she thinks of her condition ‘every now and then’. However, this is perhaps more of a preoccupying health anxiety than HIV/AIDS-related self-stigma |
| 10 |
She described herself as a very social person, known and treated well in her community. She proudly said that this is why the neighbours directed the interviewer to her that day without hesitation. When she attends ceremonies (i.e. funerals) she asks for food and meat to take home; she no longer feels ashamed to carry food home. However, In one of the interview transcripts, the interviewer commented that Grace is a ‘cruel old lady whose moods change from time to time, so counselling has been on and off to maintain our discussion flow’ |
| 11 |
She said that unless there is a problem or a function to attend, she does not associate much with village members because they gossip a lot. The interviewer commented that the respondent ‘fears being laughed at’. The subject and tone of the anticipated gossip were not stated in the interview transcript, the interviewer noted that Grace ‘fears being laughed at’ although, the interviewer added, there is ‘less stigma now than there used to be’. The respondent proudly declared that she is an HIV/AIDS ‘consultant’ in her village; she advises people to go to TASO for HIV tests. However, gossip does not necessarily have malicious intent; it is not necessarily discrimination or enacted stigma, and a wish to avoid gossip is not necessarily driven by fear |
| 12 |
Grace was more defiant with regards to gossip, and typically defiant with regards to stigma. Grace said she ‘has no stigma’ and that even if she went to a function she would ‘not care’ because ‘the whole world is infected with HIV/AIDS’. During the twelfth monthly interview, commenting that she ‘has no stigma’ and that even if she went to a function she would ‘not care’ because ‘the whole world is infected with HIV/AIDS’. In this way, Grace seemingly takes a determined attitude towards stigma, seeing it as something that should be fought against, that her HIV status presents a choice of acceptance or denial: that although HIV/AIDS is prevalent, stigma does not need to be |
| This confidence stretches beyond HIV/AIDS-related stigma, perhaps to encompass poverty-related stigma: Grace said her appetite is good and when she attends ceremonies (i.e. funerals) she eats a lot and asks for food and meat to take home. Whereas she used to feel ashamed to carry food home, now she does not mind |
