Why Are We Still Afraid of HIV?
It’s 2025, and we’ve made incredible strides in HIV care. People living with HIV can now lead full, healthy lives with proper HIV treatment. With a daily medication regime, viral loads can become undetectable — and when someone’s viral load is undetectable, they cannot transmit the virus. This is known globally as U=U: Undetectable = Untransmittable.
Yet despite this progress, HIV-related stigma remains deeply entrenched in Singaporean society. It shows up in workplaces, homes, clinics, and classrooms. Even with science on our side, fear and misunderstanding persist, often quietly, but powerfully.
This article explores why stigma hasn’t caught up with science. We’ll look at where misconceptions still thrive, how they affect mental and physical health, and most importantly, what we can do to end them.
How HIV Stigma Shows Up in Real Life
HIV stigma can be subtle or overt, but either way, it carries consequences. In a study titled “Fear really comes from the unknowns”, researchers in Singapore documented how people living with HIV often anticipate discrimination — even before it happens. This “anticipated stigma” can lead to constant self-censorship, isolation, and anxiety.
In daily life, stigma may manifest as:
- Withholding one’s HIV status from friends, partners, or employers
- Fear of job loss if discovered
- Avoiding healthcare settings due to fear of judgment
- Choosing faraway clinics to avoid being recognised
For many Singaporeans living with HIV, life becomes a careful balancing act of disclosure, secrecy, and emotional labor. Even in the absence of overt discrimination, the fear of being found out can have a devastating impact on mental well-being.
Support is available. Clinics like Shim Clinic offer discreet, non-judgmental care for those navigating sexual health or testing concerns. But access to care alone isn’t enough — we must also address the emotional and societal walls stigma builds.
It’s Not Just In Your Head: How Stigma Affects Mental Health
Stigma isn’t just a social inconvenience — it’s a mental health issue. People living with HIV who face stigma are more likely to experience:
- Chronic stress and anxiety
- Clinical depression and suicidal ideation
- Sleep disturbances and fatigue
- Avoidance of health care, even when ill
A report by Singapore’s National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) in 2024 emphasized how social rejection and fear of disclosure remain some of the biggest barriers to care. Many participants shared that they would rather travel across town than risk seeing a familiar face at a clinic.
Unfortunately, the mental toll of stigma can spiral. Some individuals may delay taking their HIV medication due to fear of being seen. Others may avoid forming close relationships, further compounding isolation. The end result? A worse prognosis and reduced quality of life — even when effective treatment is available.
Prevention tools are also impacted by stigma. People at risk may avoid asking about HIV PEP after a risky exposure or may hesitate to start PrEP, fearing others might assume they are promiscuous or HIV-positive.
Removing stigma isn’t just a matter of kindness, it’s essential public health work.
Understanding Internalised vs Anticipated Stigma
Not all stigma is external. In fact, some of the most damaging effects are internal. People living with HIV often absorb societal messages of shame, fear, and guilt. This is known as internalised stigma — when someone begins to believe they are less worthy because of their diagnosis.
Internalised stigma may manifest as self-blame, fear of intimacy, or feeling undeserving of relationships and career advancement. It can lead to withdrawal from support networks, reduced adherence to treatment, and reluctance to seek help, even when needed.
Closely linked is anticipated stigma — the expectation of discrimination, even in situations where it may not occur. For instance, someone may avoid applying for a job, fearing their HIV status will be discovered, or may conceal their diagnosis from friends to “protect” those relationships from rejection.
Both forms of stigma are deeply psychological and often invisible. Addressing them requires more than public campaigns — it demands mental health support, peer networks, and spaces where people can unlearn shame and reclaim confidence.
Where the Stigma Comes From
HIV-related stigma is not random. It is shaped by decades of cultural, historical, and social messaging. In Singapore and many parts of Asia, HIV has long been associated with moral failure, promiscuity, or being part of the LGBTQ+ community. These narratives took root in the 1980s during the height of the global AIDS crisis and continue to influence how people view the virus today.
According to a nationwide study by Lin et al. (2017), certain demographic groups in Singapore are more likely to hold stigmatizing views toward people living with HIV. The study found that older adults, married individuals, and those with less formal education tended to express higher levels of discomfort. Interestingly, stigma was not exclusive to any one ethnic or religious group, but the intensity varied across age and socio-cultural background.
Even with growing awareness and better treatment options, stigma continues to stem from misinformation, outdated beliefs, and fear of social repercussions. Many people still believe they can contract HIV through casual contact, or assume that anyone with HIV must have engaged in irresponsible behavior. These false assumptions fuel silence and shame.
Ultimately, stigma is less about the virus itself and more about how society chooses to view those affected by it. Changing that narrative is the first step toward progress.
When Laws Add to the Problem
Legal frameworks can either protect people living with HIV or make their lives more difficult. In Singapore, some HIV-related laws have historically reinforced stigma rather than reduced it. Until recently, people diagnosed with HIV were required by law to disclose their status to sexual partners — regardless of whether they were on treatment and virally suppressed.
This legal requirement ignored a key scientific fact: someone with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus. The principle of U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) is widely accepted by global health authorities, including the CDC and UNAIDS.
In 2024, Singapore amended its laws to reflect this understanding, allowing exemptions from disclosure when the person is on treatment and has maintained a suppressed viral load. This is a positive development. However, the broader issue remains: legal systems can shape public opinion. When laws paint HIV as dangerous or morally suspect, they perpetuate fear and discrimination.
Singapore also lacks comprehensive anti-discrimination laws that protect people living with HIV in areas such as employment or housing. This legal gap leaves individuals vulnerable to subtle forms of exclusion and contributes to their hesitation to disclose their status, even in trusted settings.
For laws to support public health, they must be grounded in science, fairness, and respect for human dignity. Until then, the legal system will remain a double-edged sword in the fight against HIV stigma.
Even Healthcare Isn’t Immune
Healthcare settings are supposed to be safe and supportive, but for many people living with HIV, they are sources of anxiety. In the early 2000s, studies of medical and nursing students in Singapore revealed troubling levels of stigma toward patients with HIV. Some students expressed fear about casual transmission or believed that HIV-positive individuals should be isolated for the protection of others.
While education among healthcare providers has improved, these attitudes still persist in subtle ways. In a study published by the Singapore Medical Journal, patients reported delayed treatment, excessive use of protective gear, or reluctance from doctors to perform certain procedures after learning about a patient’s HIV status.
These experiences discourage people from seeking care. Fear of judgment or breaches of confidentiality may drive them to delay treatment or skip appointments entirely. This can have serious health consequences and allows the virus to progress unchecked.
Clinics like Shim Clinic offer judgment-free care for sexual health, but many people are not aware that confidential, supportive services exist. Public awareness campaigns and training for all healthcare staff — not just doctors — are critical to reducing medical stigma.
Stigma in the clinic doesn’t just hurt feelings. It puts lives at risk and undermines everything we’ve achieved in HIV prevention and HIV treatment.
Why Training Healthcare Workers Still Matters
While HIV knowledge among doctors has improved, stigma can persist in subtle ways, often through unconscious bias or outdated practices. A 2022 Singapore-based study found that some providers still expressed discomfort about treating patients with HIV, citing fears about transmission during procedures despite universal precautions.
Research published in the Singapore Medical Journal observed that stigma levels among healthcare students correlated with their knowledge gaps. Participants who misunderstood HIV transmission were more likely to endorse social distancing or isolation practices for patients.
This suggests that ongoing training is essential, not just in technical treatment protocols, but in cultivating empathy and respect. This includes everyone from doctors to receptionists, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.
Healthcare settings should not only be safe for physical health, but also for psychological dignity. The moment a person feels judged by a healthcare worker, they are less likely to return, and more likely to delay lifesaving care.
What’s Being Done (And Is It Working?)
Singapore has not ignored HIV stigma. Over the years, multiple public and community initiatives have aimed to shift mindsets and reduce discrimination. The Ministry of Health (MOH), Health Promotion Board (HPB), and Action for AIDS (AfA) have run campaigns to normalize HIV testing and increase public understanding of transmission, treatment, and prevention.
HPB’s campaigns often use inclusive slogans such as “HIV doesn’t discriminate, neither should we.” These efforts are well-meaning and have contributed to some progress — but their impact can be difficult to measure. Critics argue that slogans alone may not be enough, especially when deep-rooted fear and misinformation persist.
Community organizations like Action for AIDS (AfA) have taken a more direct approach. Through anonymous testing, advocacy work, and support programs for people living with HIV, AfA helps bridge the gap between healthcare systems and the people most affected. They also host peer-led initiatives that offer emotional and social support to those navigating their diagnosis.
Still, some advocates say more can be done. The independent platform Regardless.sg highlighted gaps in public communication — such as the limited understanding of U=U, or the lack of workplace protections. These critiques suggest that while institutional campaigns have started the conversation, community voices are crucial for deep, lasting change.
Let’s Talk About What Works
Globally and locally, certain strategies have proven more effective at reducing HIV stigma than others. Education campaigns that directly challenge myths — such as those explaining U=U in plain language — are among the most powerful. When people understand that someone with HIV on treatment cannot pass on the virus, fear decreases and empathy increases.
Tailoring messages to specific groups also matters. Young adults, older populations, healthcare workers, and employers each require different approaches. What resonates with a 60-year-old manager may not speak to a 22-year-old navigating dating apps. Messaging that is culturally aware and demographically specific works better than generic slogans.
Another proven strategy? Peer networks. Support groups where people living with HIV can share their experiences — anonymously or openly — help break down shame and isolation. Hearing from someone who is thriving, dating, working, and staying healthy with HIV can transform perceptions more effectively than statistics alone.
And let’s not forget policy. Decriminalizing HIV non-disclosure for virally suppressed individuals was a step in the right direction. More legal reforms — especially those protecting against discrimination in workplaces and housing — are needed to fully remove systemic stigma.
Clinics that integrate prevention and care services — like offering STD testing, PrEP, PEP, and HIV testing — help normalize sexual health as a routine part of life. The more accessible and non-judgmental these services become, the more stigma fades into the background.
What You Can Do to Help End HIV Stigma
Ending HIV stigma is not just the job of doctors or campaign designers. Every one of us plays a role — as friends, colleagues, partners, family members, and members of society. Here are a few simple ways to contribute:
- Talk about HIV the way you would talk about any other health issue — factually and without shame.
- Encourage routine HIV testing among friends or partners. Normalize it as part of regular health checks.
- Share accurate information about ART, PrEP, and PEP — especially U=U.
- Speak up when someone makes a stigmatizing joke or comment. A small correction can shift perspectives.
- Support organizations doing the work — like Action for AIDS or anonymous clinics — through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading awareness.
Compassion is powerful. Knowledge is even more so. Together, they create safer, kinder communities where people living with HIV can thrive without fear.
Debunking 5 Persistent HIV Myths
Despite decades of education, some harmful HIV myths continue to circulate in Singapore. Let’s set the record straight:
- “You can get HIV from sharing food or a toilet.”
False. HIV is not transmitted through casual contact, saliva, sweat, or toilets. - “Only gay people get HIV.”
False. HIV affects people of all genders and sexual orientations. In Singapore, heterosexual transmission remains significant. - “HIV is a death sentence.”
False. With proper treatment, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives. - “HIV means you can’t have children.”
False. With medical support, people with HIV can have HIV-negative children safely. - “You’d know if someone had HIV.”
False. HIV has no visible signs in many cases. The only way to know is through a test.
Dispelling these myths is everyone’s responsibility. Misinformation fuels fear. Accurate knowledge builds safety, empathy, and trust.
No Shame, Just Science: Building a Kinder HIV Conversation
Stigma around HIV does not belong in modern Singapore. The science is clear. With access to treatment, people living with HIV can remain healthy, lead fulfilling lives, and pose no risk to others. Yet fear lingers — not because of what HIV is, but because of what society has chosen to believe about it.
Changing that begins with conversation. Honest, informed, and stigma-free. Whether it’s in a clinic, at the office, around a dinner table, or in WhatsApp chats we all have the power to change how HIV is understood and treated.
The next time someone mentions HIV, remember: it is not a death sentence, a punishment, or a secret to hide. It is a medical condition and it is manageable, treatable, and, most importantly, nothing to be ashamed of.
Need to get tested? Want to learn more? Visit Shim Clinic for confidential, professional, and non-judgmental HIV and STD services in Singapore.
Quick Facts: HIV in Singapore (2024–2025)
- 188 new resident HIV cases were reported between Jan–Oct 2023.
- 96% of cases were due to sexual transmission.
- Nearly 50% were diagnosed at a late stage.
- Source: MOH Singapore