Stigma and Challenges Faced by HIV-Positive Adolescents

Abstract: The aim of this study is to examine how the “empowering” strategies of Botswana Baylor Adolescent Programme (BBAP) are addressing problems HIV-positive adolescents are facing and how stigmatisation around HIV might be contributing to these problems. The main theories applied were “empowerment” and “stigma”. The study was carried out with a qualitative approach during a period of ten weeks at the Botswana Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence (COE) in Gaborone. The research was based on key informant interviews and observations at four different branches of the BBAP. The results of the study show that many of the problems HIV- positive adolescents face are caused by stigmatisation in society. To “empower” HIV- positive adolescents, BBAP aims to improve the HIV-positive adolescents’ self- esteem and confidence by providing them psychosocial support, giving them vocational training and advice on how to disclose. However, empowerment is only limited to within the walls of COE, as COE does not challenge the norms and behaviour in society that are the root cause of stigma. The conclusions are that the BBAP is only “empowering” HIV-positive adolescents in certain dimensions, and to be able to challenge the norms in society, greater communication and involvement between the “disempowered” and the society is encouraged.