ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Life-Course Epidemiology and Social Inequalities in Health
This article is part of the Research TopicAddressing Sexual Health Disparities in Vulnerable Communities: Pathways from Challenges to SolutionsView all articles
Public's perceptions and attitudes towards HIV and people living with HIV in GCC countries: a qualitative study
Provisionally accepted
- King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Background: Despite advances in HIV treatment, stigma and discrimination toward people living with HIV (PLHIV) remain widespread across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Limited qualitative research has explored both public attitudes and the lived experiences of PLHIV in the region. Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with twenty-seven participants from five GCC countries, including PLHIV and members of the public. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Findings showed that HIV stigma is driven by moral judgments, misinformation, and negative media representation. PLHIV reported experiences of social exclusion, fear of disclosure, and barriers to healthcare, education, and employment. Stigma was gendered, with women facing more severe social consequences. Participants highlighted the need for increased public awareness, improved media narratives, and specific policy reforms, including stronger confidentiality protections, non-discriminatory access to healthcare, and workplace safeguards for PLHIV. Conclusion: Reducing HIV stigma in the GCC requires coordinated, multi-level strategies that directly address the structural and social factors identified in this study. These include the development of stigma-free and integrated healthcare pathways, strengthened legal protections, and sustained public awareness efforts. The findings emphasise the importance of grounding policy and educational interventions in the lived realities of PLHIV and the broader public.
Keywords: GCC, hiv/aids, People living with HIV, PLHIV, qualitative research, stigma
Received: 03 Oct 2025; Accepted: 09 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Alomair and Alageel. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Samah Alageel
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