Social Context of HIV/AIDS Social Context of HIV/AIDS in China and Indiain China and India

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DefinitionsDefinitionsSocial Context: The indirect and direct influence of individuals that are in constant communication. Discrimination: Treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.Stigma: A mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one's reputation.

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How stigma is related to How stigma is related to HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS

Main factors which contribute toHIV/AIDS related stigma:

People are scared of contracting HIV. People living with HIV/AIDS are often thought of as being responsible for becoming infected. Religious or moral beliefs lead some people to believe that having HIV/AIDS is the result of moral fault that deserves to be punished.

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Opinions on HIV/AIDS patientsOpinions on HIV/AIDS patients

Some people portray HIV/AIDS to be:

A Punishment

A Crime

A War

A Horror

Othernesshttp://collections.plos.org/plosmedicine/images/collections/cover_plme_2_8_200x205.jpg

HIV in ChinaHIV in China

HIV/AIDS Stigma and HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination in ChinaDiscrimination in China

According to a survey by the China Social Survey Firm in four big cities, 75% of those surveyed said they would avoid people infected with HIV/AIDS and 45% believed that the disease was a consequence of moral degeneration.

http://ministrymatters.ca/2006/spring/images/mm05-1.jpgA Chinese couple ignores a volunteer handing out free condoms in China's financial capital Shanghai November 30, 2003, the eve of World AIDS Day.

HIV/AIDS Stigma and HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination in China (cont.) Discrimination in China (cont.) ““Your family won't eat with you, they give you food to eat apart from them,Your family won't eat with you, they give you food to eat apart from them,

and they won't have contact with you. Your friends ignore you. They areand they won't have contact with you. Your friends ignore you. They are

afraid of getting it from causal contact. If you pass them a cigarette,afraid of getting it from causal contact. If you pass them a cigarette,

they won't accept it.”they won't accept it.”

By: http://www.avert.org/aidschina.htmBy: http://www.avert.org/aidschina.htm

Families that do not reject their HIV-positive members may suffer stigma themselves. Until recently, China had no law banning discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, even if they faced the threat of eviction from their homes.

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A Chinese volunteer distributes free condoms to pedestrians in China's financial capital of Shanghai November 30, 2003, the eve of World AIDS Day.

How Stigma is being dealt withHow Stigma is being dealt with

““Stigma is a massive issue. Most doctorsStigma is a massive issue. Most doctors

won't touch you if you have HIV.”won't touch you if you have HIV.”

Drew Thompson, National Director of theDrew Thompson, National Director of the

China MSD Partnership. China MSD Partnership.

June 2005 - it was announced that a law banning discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS would come into effect by the end of the year. © UNICEF China/2005/Legins

Miriam Yeung (left) meet with schoolchildren in Shanxi Province to discuss the need to combat the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.

HIV In IndiaHIV In India

HIV Prevention In IndiaHIV Prevention In India

Educating People About HIV is very complicated due to: People find it immoral to talk or teach about sex. Many different languages that are spoken within a

population.

Stigma and discrimination in Stigma and discrimination in IndiaIndia

““When I discussed with my mother about having an AIDSWhen I discussed with my mother about having an AIDSEducation program, she said, ‘you learn andEducation program, she said, ‘you learn andcome home and talk about it in the neighborhood, they will kickcome home and talk about it in the neighborhood, they will kickyou’. She feels that we should not talk about it.”you’. She feels that we should not talk about it.”Female student, Chenna Female student, Chenna

In India, AIDS is often seen as “someone else’s problem”.People with HIV are viewed as immoral.They are not respected in the society.Often face Violence.Rejection by family, spouses, and community.Refused medical care.Denied the last rites before they die.

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Fear Of Fear Of DiscriminationDiscrimination

“There is an almost hysterical kind of fear ... at all levels, starting from the humblest,the sweeper or the ward boy, up to the heads of departments, which make thempathologically scared of having to deal with an HIV positive patient. Wherever theyhave an HIV patient, the responses are shameful.” UNAIDS (2001) 'India: HIV and AIDS-related discrimination, stigmatization and denial'

25% of people living with HIV in India had been refused medical treatment on the basis of their HIV-positive status .74% of employees not disclosing their status to their employees for fear of discrimination.Of the 26% who did disclose their status, 10% reported having faced prejudice as a result. People in marginalized groups - female sex workers, hijras (transgender) and gay men - are often stigmatized not only because of their HIV status, but also because they belong to socially excluded groups.

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A schoolteacher fired after testing HIV-positive is embraced by daughter

My Brother NikhilMy Brother Nikhil

Monkeytownhq.com/bollywood

First film out of India to directly confront gay identity and HIV.

Women in India and HIVWomen in India and HIV

• Women have low status in most Indian societies. • Mostly men contract HIV from sex workers in Cities and pass it

on to their wives.• Men refuse to practice safe sex• If a man is discovered to have HIV he is taken care of by his

family.• If a woman is HIV positive, she is thrown out of the house, losing

home, children, and job.

"My husband is a truck driver and I got HIV through him. I had never heard of HIV or condoms before that and because I can't read, I couldn't understand any of the posters or banners."– a 33-year-old woman who lives in a slum just outside Vijayavada in India

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Fighting Against HIV/AIDSFighting Against HIV/AIDS

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-07/18/content_461135.htm

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www.sciencedirect.com www.sciencedirect.com Social Science & MedicineSocial Science & Medicine, , Volume 64, Issue 12Volume 64, Issue 12, , June June

20072007, , Pages 2379-2390, Pages 2379-2390, Treena Rae OrchardTreena Rae Orchard