Marseille 2007
Marseille 2007
Abstract book
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Abstract #368  -  Discrimination against people living with HIV
Session:
  6.61: Posters A (Poster) on Monday   in  Chaired by
Authors:
  Presenting Author:   Mr Xavier Bertin - Sida Info Service, France, Metropolitan
 
  Additional Authors:  Ms Elisabete de Carvalho,  
Method / Issue:
Twenty years after the beginning of the epidemic, and after as many years fighting the disease with initiatives and information on HIV/AIDS, discrimination and stigma are still very common. In 2005, Sida Info Service, the French HIV/AIDS helpline, conducted a survey about discrimination against people living with HIV. This article describes the main results of this study based on data collected through questionnaires put to HIV positive callers (n=349).
 
Results / Comments:
Almost two out of three people rightly feel that they have been discriminated against because of their HIV condition. It increases to an 8 out of 10 people when we specifically ask the context in which they feel the most discriminated against it ranges from a wide scope of social to private situations. There are little differences on sex or age. However the rate of discrimination increases with the time since diagnosis 47.9% for people diagnosed in the last 5 years versus 73.2% for people living with the condition for 20 years or more. On a social level, the first area of discrimination appears to be within the medical environment. 43.7% of the respondents say they have suffered discrimination refusal of medical treatment, offending attitudes or remarks, violation of medical confidentiality. Again on a social level, three areas are almost a tie: employment (33.7%), insurance and banking (33.6%), and acquaintances and neighbourhood (31.7%). The private sphere is not spared: 37.2% of the respondents have been discriminated against by a sexual partner, and about 3 out of 10 by a friend, a spouse, an ex-spouse or a member of their family.
 
Discussion:
The fear of discrimination or discrimination itself has serious repercussions on quality of life. It isolates and weakens people living with the condition. It prevents them from making personal or professional plans for the future, inhibits them from seeking medical care and standing for their rights. In spite of the numerous cases of discrimination, few complaints are reported. It does therefore constitute a barrier to dealing effectively with the disease. On the one hand, it hinders the task of dealing socially and medically with HIV positive people. And from a prevention point of view, it discourages the wider public to undergo HIV testing. It is essential to identify the different areas of discrimination in order to take efficient measures to reduce the stigmatisation and isolation experienced by people living with HIV and their relatives or friends. In order to protect and empower them, the focus should be on communication and education for a better understanding of the infection, but also on providing a legal support to those who are discriminated as well as a wider access to treatments.
 
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