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Objective: this study aimed to investigate the social representations of people living with HIV/AIDS and their experiences of prejudice. Method: one hundred fiftyfour (154) people living with HIV/AIDS participated in the study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and underwent a descending hierarchical analysis through the IRaMuTeQ software. Results: the study results showed that for these individuals the moment of diagnosis was perceived as a turning point, but after a while they eventually anchored their health condition as a chronic disease. Infection occurred mostly due to intravenous drug use and unprotected sex. Discussion: the participants reported that dealing with social prejudice was more difficult than living with HIV/ AIDS. Prejudice was a recurring daily experience for those who decided to reveal their serological status, and led to a practice of concealing their condition from society to avoid being rejected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]