hankyoreh

A press conference on UN AIDS day

South Koreans infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) suffer from serious internalized stigma, including feelings of guilt and blame, a study shows.

Infection with the virus causes inflammation and other symptoms as immune capabilities decline, a condition known as AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

The Joint South Korean People Living with HIV Stigma Index Investigation Planning Team announced its findings in a press conference at the Franciscan Education Center in central Seoul on July 12. The People Living with HIV Stigma Index, an indicator of the degree of social stigma and discrimination experienced by those infected with the virus, was developed in 2006 under the leadership of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The study was first to apply the index in South Korea.

According to the findings, South Koreans living with HIV showed highly severe levels of internalized stigma, including feelings of guilt, blame, and low self-esteem.

“Compared to other countries, South Koreans living with HIV showed an overwhelmingly high rate of responses for items such as feeling that they should be punished,” the report said.

At 75%, the proportion of South Korean respondents reporting that they “blame themselves” for their HIV infection was over two times greater than the 32.2% among German respondents. The percentage reporting feeling “guilt” was also roughly three times higher at 64.4%, compared to 22.8% among German respondents. 36.5% of respondents reported feeling the urge to commit suicide.

Negative media reports and internet comments were cited as factors contributing to more intense feelings of internalized stigma among South Koreans with HIV. 63.5% of respondents said they had “sensed negative perceptions on HIV/AIDS from the activities of certain religious groups.”

The study was conducted over a two-year period and investigated 104 South Koreans living with HIV.

By Ko Han-sol, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]