Transcript Stigma and Discrimination

STIGMA AND HIV//AIDS
Definition:
Stigma is undesirable or discrediting attribute
that individual possesses thus reducing
individuals status and/or worth in he eyes of
the society.
Highly stigmatized people never enjoy social
and economic rights
Disease responsible for
stigmatization include:
Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Cancer, Mental
illnesses
HIV/AIDS is the latest in the above list
HIV/AIDS stigma has negatively affected:
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Preventive behavior in relation to condom use
HIV test-seeking behavior
Care seeking behavior upon diagnosis
Perception Rx of PLHA by communities,
families and partners
HOW DOES STIGMA OCCUR
Being a societal labeling of individual or group as different or
deviant, stigma will occur in some or all of the following ways:
Factors that distinguish and label to affirm difference
The tendency to cultivate the ‘them’ and ‘us’ attitude
The total erosion and loss of status through discrimination
Stigma has the propensity to associate with disfiguring and
incurable diseases especially where infection is wide
attributed to result in personal behavior.
TYPES OF STIGMA:
There are two types namely:
FELT STIGMA
Societal attitudes and potential discrimination arising
from a particular undesirable attribute, diseases, (like
HIV).
ENACTED STIGMA
This is the real experience of discrimination where
disclosure of an individual’s HIV/AIDS status could lead
to loss of job, health benefits or social ostracism.
Military……….etc.
SOURCES OF STIGMA
Fear of illness
Fear of contagion
Fear of death
Fears, anxieties etc.
Are very patient issues surrounding HIV/AIDS
stigma
Fear of illness refers to the severity of the
disease one has to go through
Fear of contagion: have the culprits tend to be
healthcare workers. There is ever-mushrooming
attitudes and metaphors that indelibly equate
HIV/AIDs to death, horror, punishment or
shame. Many HCP (Heath care provider) tend
to exaggerate the risk of HIV infection, this they
do through contemporary etc………TB
CONSEQUENCES OF STIGMA
This can be viewed along continuum from mild reactions
of silence and denial to ostracism and ultimately
violence. Research has revealed that AIDS stigma can
have a variety of negative effects on:
HIV test seeking behaviour
Willingness to disclose HIV status
Health care seeking behaviour
Quality of health care received at the available health
facilities
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES
Evidence based interventions to reduce
stigma vide
1. Proper information based approaches
2. Stringent counseling approaches
3. Proper coping skill acquisition
4. Increased contact with infected and
affected groups
Creation of support and safe
workplace
There must evolve HIV/AIDS patients friendly
hospitals
Health care providers (HCP) need to be trained to
improve contacts with patients, use of universal
precautions and general approach
Increased role playing, use of puppets drama, story,
use of infected people as facilitators and teachers of
health
Breaking the conspiracy of silence and secrecy (will
boost an atmosphere of openness and confidentiality,
open discussion by HCP and public meetings.
What about TB?
As we advocate for TB/HIV integration, we
need to consider the human rights implications
– Confidentiality Vs Public health Act
– Consent Vs PITC
– Disclosure Vs Notification
– Does right to health cover patients with MDR TB (if
tests can take up to 6 months)
– Can the HIV/AIDS Tribunal deal with cases of
human rights abuse cases?