“We also have cases of the disease that you are researching about”. Small-scale enterprises and the challenges of HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination in Kabale, Uganda

Abstract

At the workplace, the HIV epidemic has brought about loss of productivity, staff turnover and increased labour costs among others. HIV stigma presents barriers to HIV prevention in different settings including the workplace. Unlike large scale enterprises, small-scale enterprises have received less attention in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This study employed a qualitative case study design. Data were collected from eighteen participants in three small-scale enterprises in Kabale, Uganda. Findings indicate that although there are effectively no workplace policies in small-scale enterprises, employees in the visited workplaces do not fear HIV/AIDS testing and disclosing their HIV/AIDS status as main sources of HIV-stigma although their perceptions remain hypothetical. Integrating clear anti-discriminatory HIV/AIDS policies may empower some small-scale enterprises with related HIV knowledge and skills in an effort to overcome the challenges of HIV-related stigma and discrimination.