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It ’ s important when facilitating the training that you address issues of stigma and discrimination as they create barriers that prevent some young people from accessing harm reduction services and HIV treatment . Young drug users and sex workers face a great deal of stigma as result of their age and use of substances and / or engagement in sex work . This session is divided into two sections : stigma and barriers affecting young people ’ s access to harm reduction services .
Stigma
Stigma is based on assumptions and perceptions associated with arbitrary qualities such Stigmaas someone ’ s culture , colour of skin , occupation , sexual behaviour , gender , drug use , HIV status or other characteristics . HIV stigma plays on the fears and misinformation about the virus , perpetuating stereotypes that further marginalise already marginalised behaviours such as same gender sex , sex work and drug use . Some believe people living with HIV / AIDS deserve the infection because they ‘ chose ’ to engage in such behaviours or did something ‘ wrong ’ ( UNAIDS , 2007 ).
This type of thinking ostracises young people from accessing HIV prevention services and treatment . For instance , in a study conducted by United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA ) in China among 2,500 young people , 60 % stated that they believe people living with HIV should be isolated to a certain degree from the rest of society ( UNICEF China , 2006 ).