Download this publication - AIDS Data Hub

Characteristics of an infected personMost agreed that it is not possible to differentiate an infected person from one who isn’tand that anybody can be infected. Even when they have AIDS we cannot tell if a personactually has AIDS.“Pada peringkat akhir pun susah juga untuk tahu sebenarnya. Sebab Iada pengalaman, dengan sepupu I, penghidap HIV, doktor mengesahkandia ada pesakit HIV, keluarga semuapun terperanjat sebab dia tak tahusabelum ini dia ada sakit biasa sebenarnya dia sakit HIV, so rupa punmacam orang biasa tak macam orang sakit.”(“Even towards the end it is difficult to know for sure. Because I haveexperience with my cousin infected with HIV, doctor confirmed that hewas living with HIV, all family members were surprised because beforethis he was ill but he thought it was normal illness but it was HIV. Helooked normal, not like a sick person”)(Urban, Malay, Male)Some associated being infected to drug abuse. Therefore it was not surprise to find somemembers saying that if they looked like a drug user there was reason to suspect. Onemember thought that they look pale. On the other hand another member said that as thedisease progressed they grew thinner and thinner (this rural Malay woman witnessed herfriend die of it)Sources of Information on HIV/AIDSSource of information about HIV/AIDS include the following:• The Media including the television and the radio• The Newspaper• Websites• Doctors• Programs conducted by the Ministry of Health, PEMADAM and the NationalDrug Agency• Friends• From their children (teachers in the school had conducted a seminar onHIV/AIDS)• MagazinesAttitudes and Perceptions Related to PLHIVStigma and discriminationAttitude towards PLHIVs seem to be dependent on how they have acquired the infection.The general feeling is to sympathize with those who were infected through bloodtransfusion but with those who were infected through drugs or illicit sex received nosympathy from the community.89