Background: Stigma and discriminatory attitudes (SDAs) have a negative impact on human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention, testing, and treatment as well as on family and social
networks. There is a lack of understanding about HIV-related SDAs among people living outside
large cities. This study is aimed to determine the level of HIV-related SDAs among a semi-urban
populationinMalaysiaandtocomparetheSDAresultsamongpeoplewithdifferentsociodemographic
characteristics.
Methods: A sample of 106 respondents was generated by convenience sampling during the
screening campaign in Alor Gajah, Malaysia. Data collection was carried out based on a pre-tested
questionnaire via face-to-face interviews.
Results: More than half of the respondents (62.3%) thought that an HIV-positive teacher
should not be allowed to continue teaching at school; 81.1% were unsure or were unwilling to care for
their family member with AIDS at home; 81.2% thought children with HIV/AIDS should not continue
to be raised in families; and 77.3% thought they would not reveal if a family member had HIV/AIDS.
Conclusion: Priority should be given to evidence-based interventions to reduce HIV-related
SDAs. This study did not reveal any significant relationship between sociodemographic profiles and
HIV-related SDAs. Therefore, further research with a larger sample size is needed to investigate the
underlying causes of HIV-related SDAs.