Abstract

Considerable stigma is attached to HIV/AIDS in various parts of sub-Saharan Africa, in spite of high seroprevalence rates. Stigma, in turn, often fosters discriminatory actions toward HIV-positive persons. Some of the blame for perpetuating stigma and failing to curb discrimination continues to fall upon organized religion (Christianity and Islam), which remains a central institution in many Africans ' lives and tends to advocate sexual conservatism. However, little systematic empirical evidence exists to support the suggestion that religion breeds discrimination and stigma about HIV/AIDS. Drawing upon Demographic and Health Survey data from six sub-Saharan countries with elevated HIV infection rates, we evaluate the effect of religious affiliation on different forms of AIDS-based discrimination, paying close attention to possible confounding effects. In most analyses, religious affiliation is unrelated to discriminating against persons-with-AIDS after accounting for ethnicity - a far more robust predictor of discrimination than is religion. Where affiliation does remain significant, Muslims and people who practice other non-Christian religious traditions tend to report more discriminatory attitudes.