Yang Y, Zhang KL; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).

Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. WeOrE1303.

Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

Background: HIV/AIDS has been described as a global security issue and is commonly referred to as a disease epidemic that is accompanied by an epidemic of stigma. Large population centres in China, and the rest of Asia have been largely untouched by the epidemic but are projected to become major sources of new infection. This adds urgency to the need to understand the social forces that drive it. Paramount among these social forces are HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination which are regarded as the greatest barriers to the prevention of new infections, and adequate treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Method: Using an adaptation of the UNAIDS "Protocol for the identification of discrimination against people living with HIV" structural levels of HIV/AIDS related discrimination were systematically investigated in Beijing. The protocol covers 37 situations in 10 key domains of social life, including health care, employment, education, housing, and insurance. The protocol adopts a largely qualitative approach to investigate Legislation, Policy, and Practice. A team of investigators with experience in Health Care, Law, and Social Policy examined the occurrence of discrimination in each of the domains. Results: The results showed the occurrence of HIV related discrimination in 6 of the 37 related to Legislation, 9 of the 37 situations as they related to Policy and 19 of the 37 situations as they related to Practice. Health care is the domain in which most HIV/AIDS related discrimination occurs. Conclusions: The occurrence of HIV/AIDS related discrimination in the areas Legislation, Policy, and Practice indicates that there are additional steps that the Government could take to address the issue. Steps should include the promotion of voluntary testing and the reduction in mandatory testing, and the provision of services and support at an individual and community level to reduce stigma and discrimination. In all cases, legislative amendment and policy setting needs to be evidence based.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Asia
• China
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Services Needs and Demand
• Legislation
• Mandatory Testing
• Public Policy
• Research

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0039306

UI: 102283522

From Meeting Abstracts