When the person receives an HIV-positive diagnosis, and necessary social support is not available to them, their capacity to function is often diminished. It's during times when a HIV-positive diagnosis is given that the person is least likely to understand and retain information due to the volume of information given and the stress associated with the diagnosis. While persons without mental handicaps might maintain these misconceptions, they most likely have the cognitive resources to work through the issue and come to a more realistic evaluation of their situation. The loss of status accompanying the HIV-positive diagnosis is compounded by other diagnostic problems. As most people are, those with mental handicaps are very terrified of social stigma.
Stigma results in people being ostracized, ridiculed, and ignored.
Information is not shared and prevention, treatment, and support services are not accessed. While the infected person typically elects the former and refuses the latter treatment, it is widely accepted that these modalities are intertwined. The decision is very complicated for mentally handicapped individuals because of the unique thought processes related to their decision-making. Most decisions in their lives are marked by lack of information, and in many cases, are impulsively made. For example, if they do not report pain they might be missing out on needed treatments.