Stigmatized: Global survey shows HIV pts still fear it
More than 25 years after pandemic began
Results from the AIDS Treatment for Life International Survey (ATLIS)—which polled nearly 3,000 HIV-positive patients from 18 countries—show people living with HIV and AIDS around the globe still live in fear of the societal stigma that surrounds the disease.
The ATLIS findings suggest that stigma remains an issue for HIV-positive patients, particularly with regard to disclosure of their HIV status. More than half of survey respondents (54 %) are "very" or "somewhat" concerned about others knowing their HIV status, with 83 % claiming this is predominantly due to concern of social discrimination and stigma. They are also concerned about specific repercussions including the loss of family and friends (41 %), the impact on their ability to establish future relationships (37 %), the risk of losing their job (36 %) and the impact on their reputation (36 %). African respondents had fewer concerns about revealing their condition as opposed to respondents in other regions. Asian/Pacific respondents were more concerned about the risk of losing family and friends, as well as the potential impact on their current relationships. Respondents in North America were most concerned that their HIV-positive status could be damaging to their reputation.
The ATLIS findings were released recently by the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC) at the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. The survey was simultaneously published in the July/August 2008 issue of the Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC).
In additional findings, some respondents were so concerned about side effects that they stopped their treatment regimens. In light of the ATLIS findings, IAPAC encourages a global call-to-action urging the HIV community to: 1) increase education and discussion to ensure patients are better informed about their treatments and can assist in making decisions about their HIV therapy regimen; 2) promote dialogue around patients' quality of life as it relates to treatment potency, dosing strategies, side effects and tolerability; 3) address non-clinical barriers to HIV treatment initiation and adherence, including stigma, discrimination and cost; and 4) advance culturally sensitive HIV prevention programs.
Results from the AIDS Treatment for Life International Survey (ATLIS)which polled nearly 3,000 HIV-positive patients from 18 countriesshow people living with HIV and AIDS around the globe still live in fear of the societal stigma that surrounds the disease.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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