AEGiS-14IAC: Cases of stigma and discrimination against positive lives in Bangladesh.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Cases of stigma and discrimination against positive lives in Bangladesh.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. ThPeG8275)

Gomes JV, Mili SN
Population Council, Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

ISSUE: Over the past decade the major activity done by organizations working on HIV/AIDS issue in Bangladesh is sensitization and raising awareness along with peer education and prevention methods among groups practicing risk behaviour. However, discrimination and stigma against HIV positive lives exist in Bangladesh that go unreported.

DESCRIPTION: In 2002, the membership of STD/AIDS network in Bangladesh is 115 member organizations, working in the area of raising awareness on and prevention of HIV/AIDS both among high-risk behaviour practicing groups and general population. Amidst this scenario there also exist a loose national network of HIV positive individuals and an organization named Ashar Alo (Light of Hope) has been formed in 2001. These HIV+ individuals face innumerable incidents of discrimination and stigma a few are presented as case studies.

ISSUES: Unavailability of CD4 cell count test facility is curbing the accessibility to anti-retroviral drugs. Moreover, discrimination from the health care service providers has resulted in refusal of care and access to facilities to positive individuals. This has resulted in non-disclosure of HIV status, even while accessing treatment to opportunistic infections. Though stigmatization of HIV+ people by the media has been reduced and work place discrimination has been minimized mainly within the NGOs working on HIV/AIDS, still people find it very difficult to disclose their HIV status even to their families in fear of stigma and discrimination.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The paper recommends that development of HIV/AIDS prevention and care policy should take the shape of legislation. Moreover, access to treatment should also be supported as a human rights issue and health care service providing institutes need to undergo de-stigmatization training. Intervention for organizations of positive lives has also been proposed in order to develop a more humane and friendly environment for HIV+ individuals.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Stereotyping, Risk-Taking, Organizations, Discrimination (Psychology), Bangladesh, Human Rights, Health Services Needs and Demand, Public Policy, Public Opinion, HumanKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,hivseropositivity,stereotyping,risk-taking,organizations,discrimination(psychology),bangladesh,humanrights,healthservicesneedsanddemand,publicpolicy,publicopinion,human

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Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.