Admission Reserved: Members Only: Impact of Psychosocial Support on Stigma and Disclosure Dynamics Among Women Participating in Hiv / Aids Support Groups

In spite of HIV and AIDS being three decades old stigma remains pervasive. This study sought to explore the dynamics of internalised stigma with a view to understanding the impact of group based psychosocial support on disclosure of HIV status by women. Previous studies have shown on one hand that HIV-status disclosure is critical to tackling the challenges posed by associated stigma and on the other that psychosocial support groups have the ability of availing coping strategies. The study argues that Support Groups need to be capacitated with skills building strategies in assertiveness and self-esteem if they are to deal with related stigma and contribute to public disclosure of HIV and AIDS status. It gives insights into the complex range of socio-cultural factors and how such factors influence and shape behaviours and their consequences on HIV and AIDS for women. If Support Groups remain ?Members Only? clubs this may actually perpetuate discrimination as disclosure will remain low with no meaningful contribution to addressing stigma.