A cross sectional study was carried out from April to June 2001 among residents ofrnDiredawa town aged 18 year and above to assess the magnitude and determinants of stigmarnrelated to HIV/AIDS and PLWHA. A multistage sampling procedure was used to selectrn845 study subjects. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were utilized.rnAlthough majority of respondents were well aware about HIV/AIDS, there is stillrnmisconceptions about its casual transmission. Most respondents manifest at least somernform of stigma towards PLWHA. Majority 527(68.7%) of the respondents agreed thatrnPLWHA should not have child and 463(60.4%) of them to keep the HIV positive status ofrntheir family member secrete. Three hundred ninety six (51.6%) of the respondents said thatrnPLWHA should never be trusted and 363(47.3%) respondents believed that PLWHArndeserve the disease. More than a quarter of them 275(35.9%) also had an attitude ofrnseparating PLWHA from others to safeguard the public and 269(35.1%) reported theirrnunwillingness to let their children learn in a school where one of the students is known tornbe HIV positive. Significant (P