Symbolic Interactionist Theory

The typical trajectory of illness follows the patterns laid out by Parsons (1951) in the sick role. By allowing individuals to momentarily break out of their role, providing sympathy, and expecting/assisting the individual in pursuing treatment, the individual has an easier transition between sick and well roles. However, many exceptions to this theory exist. HIV and AIDS deviate from the sick role in almost every way, which creates stigma and causes many problems for the individual with the disease. Stigma is an attribute which labels a person as deviant from the norm. This attribute discredits individuals in social contexts and the individual associated with this attribute is viewed as bad, dangerous, or weak by the general public (Williams, 2014).
The intention of this paper to research from a symbolic interactionist perspective how the stigma of HIV and AIDS results in poor health practices. A symbolic interactionist approach refers to the micro interactions between individuals. How symbols such as behaviours and language are interpreted to produce meaning and understanding shapes an individual's subsequent actions as well as their reality (Blumer, 1994).
Health practices such as eating well, exercising, getting checkups, seeking, and applying treatment, all have a significant impact on the contribution or

decline of an individual’s health. Many issues that arise for HIV positive individuals happens on a micro scale. How they interact with the world directly affects their health care practices and decisions.
At risk individuals may avoid taking preventative action out of fear of being seen and labelled with HIV/AIDS.

Additionally, individuals who are HIV positive will likely try to hide their diagnosis, resulting in the avoidance of treatment or inconsistency of treatment among other dangerous behaviours. Finally, the stigma of HIV/AIDS has been found to result in the denial of services and discrimination which can make accessing care more difficult. Understanding the full affects of HIV/AIDS stigma on health and disease prevalence could help reduce the incidents of HIV/AIDS. Finally, it could improve quality of life for individuals diagnosed with

HIV/AIDS.
Individuals who are at risk for HIV may purposely reduce certain preventative behaviours. Research from Sengupta et al. (2011) finds that there is indeed a link between perceived HIV/AIDS stigma and the avoidance of preventative and care-seeking behaviours. Testing for HIV signifies that an individual has been engaging in morally questionable activity (as considered by some cultures) that has put the individual at risk for HIV/AIDs. Thus, the testing process in itself can attract negative attention by arousing moral suspicion. For example, Pitpitan et al. (2012) report that individuals who hold strong negative feelings and beliefs toward individuals with HIV/AIDS are most likely to have never been tested themselves, despite being at high risk for the disease. Many respondents confessed that they avoided testing out of fear of being associated with the disease and having to face the discrimination and rejection that accompanies an HIV/AIDS diagnosis.
Ideally, individuals would be tested after each partner just to be safe, however, these types of preventative practices are avoided out of fear of being wrongfully labelled as HIV positive by people who witness the individual pursuing preventative measures. In other cases, an at-risk individual may suspect that they have indeed contracted HIV/AIDS but avoid testing due to the presumed direct repercussions of getting tested.
Herek (1999) reports that in many cases a distrust of the government could lead to avoidance of testing. A common belief among some at-risk individuals is that their names will be added to a list of HIV/AIDS positive individuals that is reported to a government agency. Thus, testing may be avoided due to blatant denial. If an individual with HIV/AIDS does not get tested, they cannot receive the label. Not receiving the label means they avoid receiving a stigmatized identity and all the associated discriminatory treatment (Williams, 2014).
Among the individuals who have received an HIV positive diagnosis, treatment can be pursued to avoid the development of AIDS. This turns HIV into a chronic condition meaning that death can be avoided with treatment and medication.
Experiences of rejection, disapproval, or discrimination with respect to an individual’s HIV/AIDs status can result in the internalization of shame that leads to a drop in motivation to take care of oneself (Vanable, 2006). As a result, adherence to necessary medical regimen can be compromised.
The regimen itself has potential to arouse suspicion. Individuals do not want others to see them taking pills. Fear of being questioned about medication and ultimately having their health status being found out (Williams, 2014) creates greater difficulty in taking the medication. Individuals may need to find a way to excuse themselves during social interactions and find a place to take their medication privately when they experience pain. Doing so may not always be an option, resulting in inconsistent medication use.
In addition to taking medication, HIV positive individuals are required to get checkups at a clinic. Individuals who experienced high levels of stigma for their health status were less likely to attend the clinic (Vanable, 2006). Missing clinic appointments puts the individual at an elevated risk for developing AIDS. Ensuring that health is monitored so that health status is maintained as optimal as possible includes making changes to medication and dosage depending on the current state of the illness.