This article discusses denial as a primitive defence mechanism. Many people use it as a way of dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Many who live in the culture of denial have found out too late that this approach is ineffective in dealing with the problem. Health promotion theories e. g. Social Learning Theory, Reference Group Based Social Influence Theory and the Coping Theory describe what makes people change their attitudes and behaviour. Various solutions can be gleaned from trials and projects conducted in different countries in Africa (and elsewhere) which have been published in international journals and reviewed in this presentation. These findings may offer assistance not only to health promoters but also to those involved in educating health professionals in primary health care. Hopefully, barriers relating to HIV/AIDS denial and the implementation of other preventative measures will be overcome, so that the incidence rates of this epidemic in Africa and the world can decrease dramatically.