Fear of disclosure and popular stigmas contribute to bad outcomes. CDC finds that 1 in 5 people stigmatize HIV.

Two decades into the HIV epidemic, many Americans still are misinformed about how HIV is transmitted, and they continue to blame the disease on those who are infected, according to a new survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. This widespread stigmatization of the disease and those who have it has led some HIV-infected people to delay testing and treatment, according to experts. And it affects th way some deal with workplace issues. Many HIV-infected workers are afraid to disclose their HIV status, even if the disclosure would enable them to seek reasonable accommodations for their health issues and treatment.