Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS have often been identified as primary barriers to effective HIV prevention, as well as to the provision of treatment, care and support.

Table 3.64 shows that the overwhelming majority of respondents indicated that they would be willing to care for a family member with AIDS. However, varying proportions of respondents showed some degree of negative attitude and perception in relation to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Most respondents were willing to provide care for a family member with AIDS, and the vast majority were opposed to acts of discrimination against children and others living with HIV. Additionally, 61.9% were prepared to be open about the HIV status of a family member, and nearly half would consider marrying a person living with HIV/AIDS.

Table 3.64: Attitudes of respondents aged 15 years and older, South Africa 2005

Table 3.66 shows the percentage of the population that agreed to attitude statements according to where they live. Attitudes in urban areas were more positive towards people with HIV/AIDS, but there were no differences between urban formal and urban informal populations. However, the attitude of people in formal rural areas were less positive than that of people in informal rural areas, with the exceptions in openness about a family member being HIV positive (3.4% lower) and perceptions of marriage to a person living with HIV/AIDS (6.2% lower).