How does HIV/AIDS affect people?s lives?
How people deal with the news of a life-threatening infection such as HIV/AIDS will depend on the culture and environment they were brought up in and their life experiences. How they manage their illness will depend not only on their own attitudes, but also on the reactions of their friends, family, community, co-workers and employers. If people with HIV feel safe and protected and have support from those around them, it may be easier for them to come to terms with their illness and to help others with the disease. On the other hand, if people with HIV are isolated and live in fear, they may have little reason to take care of themselves and may possibly get ill sooner. Remember that people who are infected and are carriers of HIV live many years before becoming sick and they are infectious to others. If these persons are rejected and not supported they will not care for others and could behave irresponsibly. The following case studies describe the effect HIV/AIDS has had on the lives o
