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Beyond Medicine: How Compassion Helps Mothers and Children Overcome HIV and TB Stigma

Picture of Dr Jessica Price
Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to care for families facing HIV and tuberculosis (TB) in South Africa. Even though treatment has improved and is more widely available, many mothers and young children still struggle to seek help because of fear, shame, or discrimination. These hidden pressures can delay testing, interrupt treatment, and isolate families when they need support the most.

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On World AIDS Day, December 1, 2025, we stand with mothers and young children who face stigma in silence. Every family deserves safe, stigma-free care.
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On World TB Day, March 24, 2026, we honor every child whose voice goes unheard because of stigma. Healing begins when families feel safe to seek care.
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When care is delivered with dignity, families can thrive.
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Moments like this are made possible when fear is replaced with compassion.
Progress, but also Persistent Barriers

In 2025, South Africa made new efforts to confront HIV and TB stigma. In June, SANAC (the South African National AIDS Council) held a national workshop to develop a framework to eliminate stigma and discrimination. This work goes beyond hospitals and clinics. It includes schools, workplaces, and community groups — the places where harmful attitudes often take root.

Participants agreed on two priorities:

  • Community-led approaches, not top-down messaging

  • Better data to measure stigma in real-life settings like clinics, schools, and homes

Earlier in the year, the National End TB Campaign also made stigma reduction a central focus. The campaign highlights a stark reality: 

Early diagnosis is only effective when families feel safe enough to seek care and follow treatment. Without trust, treatment cannot succeed.

The Lived Experience of Stigma

Research in Khayelitsha (Western Cape) and Hammanskraal (Gauteng) revealed that many people still hide their TB status or avoid care because they fear being judged. Parents of young children also reported feeling isolated and afraid to speak openly. To respond to this, TB Proof and other community groups are piloting peer-support models led by TB survivors, because people are more likely to seek help when they feel understood, not shamed.

 

A Starfish Story of Hope

At one of the Starfish-supported community organisations, a young mother named *Ayanda shared how stigma nearly kept her from treatment after learning she was HIV-positive during pregnancy. Afraid of being recognised at a clinic, she delayed care and withdrew from others.

A Starfish health worker met her through a home-visiting programme. With gentle counselling and practical guidance, she began treatment and slowly regained confidence. Her baby was born healthy. Today, Ayanda encourages other young mothers to seek testing and care early. Her strength reminds families that treatment is not weakness; it is protection, love, and courage.

Why Change Must Go Beyond Medicine

Medical treatment alone is not enough to protect mothers and children.

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When stigma is reduced, health becomes possible. When families feel safe, they are more likely to stay in care, complete treatment, and protect their children’s health.

The Path Forward

The more we listen to mothers, caregivers, and community leaders, the more clearly we see that stigma is a social problem with medical consequences. Real change starts one conversation, one safe space, and one supportive relationship at a time.

To learn more about how donors are making a difference for young children in South Africa, visit our website at www.starfish-greathearts.org/wellness-wagon and explore the work that supports our communities.

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*To protect the privacy of the individuals and families in our stories, names and photos have been changed.
 
More about the author: Dr.  Jessica Price is a clinician-scientist specializing in pediatrics, with a research focus on child mortality and health policy. She graduated with distinction from UCT in 2014 and held leadership roles in SHAWCO Health. As a Rhodes Scholar, she completed a PhD at Oxford on child mortality in rural South Africa. Currently, she is a research fellow at Wits School of Public Health, continuing her work on verbal autopsy and under-5 mortality. Jessica has held various leadership positions, including deputy mayor of the Junior City Council, UCT SRC Vice President External, and cofounder of the Rhodes Incubator at Oxford.

 
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