The fact that there is a lot of inaccurate information about how HIV is transmitted also contributes to the stigma attached to it. Other factors that contribute to HIV/AIDS discrimination include: the fact that HIV/AIDS is a life-threatening disease; religious and moral beliefs that the disease is the result of moral fault; most people become infected with the disease through sexual contact – the group of sexually transmitted diseases is always stigmatized. The WHO cites fear of stigma and discrimination as the main reason why people are reluctant to be tested.

Health authorities and the U.N. AIDS agency pledged Sunday to combat the stigmatization of people with the disease. Thousands of volunteers, wearing red ribbons, the symbol of AIDS awareness, gathered at the Olympic Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing, in the attempt to show their support for HIV/AIDS sufferers and fight discrimination.

"Stigma and discrimination are major obstacles in an effective response to AIDS. We need to engage all sectors of society in China to combat these issues and work together to stop the disease," said Minister of Health Chen Zhu, according to a UNAIDS statement. The ministry said the government will continue its efforts to overcome the general lack of knowledge on HIV/AIDS and to fight discrimination.

Another important idea to keep in mind is that HIV/AIDS knowledge should be popularized among the migrant population, as the epidemic is highly prevalent among this group, which is at greater risk of contracting and transmitting the disease. Besides migrant workers, high prevalence groups in China include injecting drugs users, men who have sex with men, former plasma donors and commercial sex workers.

According to current estimates by UNAIDS and WHO, by the end of 2007 there were an estimated 700,000 people living with HIV in China, including 85,000 AIDS patients.