HIV/AIDS is a serious global infectious and chronic condition with
no cure currently available. There is significant stigma associated with
being HIV/AIDS positive. This can have substantial health implications
by interfering with prevention efforts and discouraging people from safe
sex practices, care-seeking behaviours, and seeking a diagnosis and
treatment. Because HIV mostly affects the economically productive age
group between 15 and 49 years in Malawi, workplaces have been
substantially affected. There is also some evidence of targeted
stigmatisation of people affected with HIV and AIDS at workplaces.
The socioeconomic impacts of HIV/AIDS in the workplace are well
recognised. According to the Government of Malawi, the major
economic cost of HIV and AIDS is the loss of human resources in both
the private and public sectors. HIV/AIDS affects work productivity
through increased sickness, absenteeism, and loss of staff through death
and attrition. The aim of this article is to review the literature to
elucidate the factors that fuel HIV-related stigma in the workplace. For
effective responses to address HIV/AIDS issues, investigation of the
processes that underpin HIV-related stigma and their implications for
institutional policies and programs are highly recommended as key areas
for future research in Malawi.