Are the Arab Gulf States Ready for HIV/AIDS Discussions? A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Introduction There is a lack of awareness of HIV/AIDS nature, mode of transmission, and prevention amongst Muslims, with socio-cultural and religious factors contributing to the lack of awareness. This research was aimed at examining people’s perceptions and views of HIV/AIDS awareness content in the Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC) region. Methods We performed a qualitative thematic analysis of comments posted on an HIV/AIDS educational video by “Salamatak” programme in the GCC region on three social media platforms (YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram). Results A total of 486 comments were included in the analysis. Public responses to HIV/AIDS awareness content varied depending on perceived commonality of HIV and religiosity in the GCC community. Some comments were against the video, and public outrage towards the video content prevailed. The main reasons for this outrage were the absence of the moral/religious message and lack of cultural sensitivity. However, some comments supported a harm reduction approach, emphasising that the promotion of abstinence only is unrealistic and ineffective for HIV prevention. It was apparent from the public’s response to the video that stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS are highly prevalent in the community. Conclusions Religiously and culturally sensitive sexual health content is lacking in the region, and the need for tailored intervention was highlighted in our findings. Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV are common in the GCC countries. Policy Implications A collaborative effort between policymakers, public health practitioners, opinion makers, and researchers is needed to tackle the HIV epidemic and reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV in the region.