Drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and stigmatisation in a Dai community in Yunnan, China

The latest data indicate that between 540,000 and 760,000 people are infected with HIV in China. Although minority nationalities represent 8.1% of China's total population, they account for more than 30% of the reported HIV/AIDS cases. This study examined stigma and discrimination against drug...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Deng, R., Li, Jianghong, Sringernyuang, L., Zhang, K.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier Science 2007
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36444
_version_ 1848754772483506176
author Deng, R.
Li, Jianghong
Sringernyuang, L.
Zhang, K.
author_facet Deng, R.
Li, Jianghong
Sringernyuang, L.
Zhang, K.
author_sort Deng, R.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The latest data indicate that between 540,000 and 760,000 people are infected with HIV in China. Although minority nationalities represent 8.1% of China's total population, they account for more than 30% of the reported HIV/AIDS cases. This study examined stigma and discrimination against drug abusers and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in a Dai minority nationality community in Yunnan, China. The study used qualitative research methods, which included participatory observations, in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions, transect walking and community mapping. A combination of different sampling strategies was used to maximise diversity of the initially selected sample. The data revealed deeply entrenched stigma and overt discrimination against drug abusers and PLHA that manifested in familial, work, civil and institutional contexts. The stigma reflected pre-existing cultural, religious sanctions against “deviant behaviours”. Intervention programmes that were insensitive to the local culture and religion may have also contributed in part to the stigmatisation of drug abusers and PLHA. The major impact of stigma was that it created a vicious cycle of social isolation, marginalisation and thus addiction relapse. This in turn reinforced the stigmatisation and discrimination against drug abusers and thus hindered efforts towards prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T08:45:43Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-36444
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T08:45:43Z
publishDate 2007
publisher Elsevier Science
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-364442017-09-13T15:23:04Z Drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and stigmatisation in a Dai community in Yunnan, China Deng, R. Li, Jianghong Sringernyuang, L. Zhang, K. The latest data indicate that between 540,000 and 760,000 people are infected with HIV in China. Although minority nationalities represent 8.1% of China's total population, they account for more than 30% of the reported HIV/AIDS cases. This study examined stigma and discrimination against drug abusers and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in a Dai minority nationality community in Yunnan, China. The study used qualitative research methods, which included participatory observations, in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions, transect walking and community mapping. A combination of different sampling strategies was used to maximise diversity of the initially selected sample. The data revealed deeply entrenched stigma and overt discrimination against drug abusers and PLHA that manifested in familial, work, civil and institutional contexts. The stigma reflected pre-existing cultural, religious sanctions against “deviant behaviours”. Intervention programmes that were insensitive to the local culture and religion may have also contributed in part to the stigmatisation of drug abusers and PLHA. The major impact of stigma was that it created a vicious cycle of social isolation, marginalisation and thus addiction relapse. This in turn reinforced the stigmatisation and discrimination against drug abusers and thus hindered efforts towards prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. 2007 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36444 10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.12.011 Elsevier Science restricted
spellingShingle Deng, R.
Li, Jianghong
Sringernyuang, L.
Zhang, K.
Drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and stigmatisation in a Dai community in Yunnan, China
title Drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and stigmatisation in a Dai community in Yunnan, China
title_full Drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and stigmatisation in a Dai community in Yunnan, China
title_fullStr Drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and stigmatisation in a Dai community in Yunnan, China
title_full_unstemmed Drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and stigmatisation in a Dai community in Yunnan, China
title_short Drug abuse, HIV/AIDS and stigmatisation in a Dai community in Yunnan, China
title_sort drug abuse, hiv/aids and stigmatisation in a dai community in yunnan, china
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36444