Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

566 Abstracts ThPeE7917-ThPeE7921

XIV International AIDS Conference

on the HIV+ person; interventions to assist in inoculating HIV+ persons from the
consequences of stigma must be implemented broadly
Presenting author: Dallas Swendeman, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Los
Angeles, CA, 90024, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7917 Elevated levels of stigma in biological mothers
caring for children with HIV
J.M. Grant, M. Acree, J.T. Moskowitz, S. Folkman. University of California, San
Francisco, osher center for integrative medicine at ucsf, 1701 divisadero street,
suite 150, san francisco, ca., 94115, United States
Background: Though caring for a child with any chronic illness carries some
level of stigma, the stigma associated with caring for an HIV-infected child may be
unique. We hypothesized that the level and type of stigma depend on the illness
of the child (HIV vs. other chronic illness) and the relationship of the caregiver
(biological mother vs. non-biological).
Methods: The Maternal Caregivers Study is a longitudinal study of female caregivers of children with HIV and other chronic illnesses (e.g., sickle cell anemia).
Participants are maternal caregivers (biological mothers, female relatives, or foster/adoptive mothers) and are residents of the San Francisco Bay Area or New
York City. We assessed stigma in 71 caregivers of HIV-infected children and 55
caregivers of chronically ill children using a modified version of the Illness Stigma
Scale (Westbrook & Bauman, 1996). We created subscales to focus on feelings
of guilt and blame, social distancing/social anxiety, and fear of contagion.
Results: For both groups, younger caregivers with less education and lower income reported higher levels of stigma. Relatives and nonrelatives reported similar levels of stigma across illness groups. However, biological mothers in the
HIV group reported significantly higher scores on overall stigma than biological
mothers in the chronic group (p<.0001), and higher scores on the guilt/blame
(p<.0001) and social distancing (p<.05) scales.
Conclusions: Although HIV infection is a stigmatized condition, relatives and
foster and adoptive mothers caring for HIV-infected children do not report higher
levels of stigma than caregivers of children with other chronic illnesses. But biological mothers of HIV-infected children do report greater stigma than mothers
of children with other chronic illnesses, which could be attributed to feelings of
self-blame for HIV transmission, anxiety about public reactions to her child's HIV
status, and shame about being HIV infected.
Presenting author: jenna grant, osher center for integrative medicine at ucsf,
1701 divisadero street, suite 150, san francisco, ca., 94115, United States, Tel.:
[phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7918 HIV infection, unemployment and working
conditions in Chile
N. Damianovic1, X. Sgombich1, H. Hernandez2, A. Henriquez3, Y. Souteyrand4,
and the Chilean Drug Access Initiative ANRS Study Group3. INOUS
Investigacion & Asesoria, ANRS, 101 rue de Tolbiac, 75013, Paris, Chile;
2CONASIDA, Santiago de Chile, Chile; 3ANRS, Santiago de Chile, Chile;
4ANRS, Paris, France
Background: As a chronic disease, HIV infection affects the individuals in their
social and professional life, reduces their working ability and makes them vulnerable to discrimination and unemployment. We describe the employment status of
people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV) in Chile and study the consequences of
HIV infection in terms of work and employment.
Methods: A random sample of 800 PLWHIV (161 women and 639 men) followed
up by the Chilean Public Health System have been interviewed face to face between 12/00 and 02/01. Data on current and last employment, recent changes in
work and determinants, absenteeism, discriminations in workplace and determinants of unemployment have been collected. Qualitative interviews complete the
survey.
Results: At the time of the survey, 45.1% (361) of the interviewees were employed (WPs) and 54.9% unemployed (NWPs) (439). The rate of employment differ significantly between women (27%) and men (50%). For 45%(196) of NWPs,
unemployment is attributed to their disease.
57% of WPs (202) benefit from a contract of employment which gives them access to social security. For 11% (42) of the WPs their level of responsibility has
decreased since they are HIV-positive. 50%(180) have changed their work location and for 40% of them (71), this change is related to their HIV status: physical
or mental health problems for 45 persons; pressure and/or discrimination for 39.
In the last 12 months, 42.9% (155) have been out of work at least once, due to
HIV (women: 34.9%, men: 44%), with an average figure of absenteeism of 65.6
days (SD=78).
Conclusion: The impact of AIDS on employment and working conditions contributes dramatically to the vulnerability of PLWHIV: the combined effects of health
status and discrimination create conditions of unemployment, fragility of the pro
fessional status and of the health and social protection.
Presenting author: yves souteyrand, ANRS, 101 rue de Tolbiac, 75013,
Paris, France, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: yves.souteyrand
@anrs.fr

ThPeE7919I Working Beyond Borders - Lessons learned from
regional anti-discrimination advocacy campaign on
HIV/AIDS
0. Valdimarsson. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies,IFRC, Regional Delegation, Bangkok, Ocean Tower 2, 18th Floor,
75/26 Sukhumvit 19, Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand
Issues: Though there is growing global recognition of the importance of advocacy campaigns on HIV/AIDS-related issues, reducing stigma and discrimination
of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) remains a complex task. It requires local
communities to work together to overcome the sensitivities of the issue. It also requires a multi-faceted approach to tackle its complexity. Yet, there have not been
many opportunities for communities, volunteers and people from different fields
of expertise to act jointly on the issue.
Description:This paper will show how regionally organized advocacy campaign
can provide opportunities to local community to act together to tackle the problems of discrimination against PLWHA. The paper will highlight the complexities
and sensitivities of issues related to HIV/AIDS discrimination and stigmatisation,
and describe the way in which these may be overcome by promoting community
participation, cooperating across borders and bringing together multi-sectored expertise beyond individual sectors. The findings are based on a regional campaign
organized on the 2001 World AIDS Day in which more than 20 Red Cross/Red
Crescent National Societies and branches in the Asia-Pacific region participated.
50,000 people were provided with the opportunity to attach messages of care for
PLWHA to balloons that were released simultaneously throughout the region.
Lessons learned: A regionally organized HIV/AIDS anti-discrimination campaign
has enabled local communities and professionals and volunteers working in the
field to act together beyond physical, structural and cultural constraints. Recommendation: The paper recommends that cross-border/cross-sectoral interventions in HIV/AIDS related work - at community, organisational and governmental
levels - are an effective tool in fighting HIV/AIDS stigmatisation, and in advocating
for anti-discrimination activities for PLWHA.
Presenting author: Stefan Seebacher, IFRC, Regional Delegation, Bangkok,
Ocean Tower 2, 18th Floor, 75/26 Sukhumvit 19, Wattana, Bangkok, Thailand,
Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7920 British attitudes towards people who are HIV
positive or have AIDS
D.M. McVey1, S. Griffiths2, K. Winestein2. 1Research Consultant, London,
United Kingdom; 2National AIDS Trust, London, United Kingdom
Background. As part of the evaluation of a targeted media campaign to address
the discrimination and stigmatisation of people who are HIV positive or living with
AIDS The National AIDS Trust conducted a study of the general population in
Great Britain to assess the prevalence of stigmatising attitudes.
Methods: Using an established regular survey of the general population a stratified random sample of 1800 people aged 16 years and older, were interviewed
during October and November 2001 using as structured questionnaire comprising 15 open and closed questions. The response rate for the survey was 65%.
Questions ranged from how people thought their employers would behave towards people with HIV/AIDS to how they would react personally to a member of
their family who had HIV/AIDS.
Results: 25% thought their employers would react negatively, 38% said their work
colleagues would behave negatively and not communicate with people with AIDS.
31% said neighbours would behave negatively. When asked about their own reactions people were much more positive with only 6% saying they would feel
uncomfortable if someone with HIV/AIDS moved next door to them. The majority
of respondents said they would be supportive to family members with HIV/AIDS.
Conclusions. Although the majority of respondents claim they do not personally
hold prejudicial views towards people with HIV/AIDS and indeed would behave
in a positive manner towards them, there was, nevertheless, a strong perception
from over two fifths of the general population that people with HIV/AIDS would be
treated unfairly and stigmatised by British society
Presenting author: Dominic McVey, 163 Priory Road, Hampton, Middlesex,
TW12 2PT, United Kingdom, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone],
E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeE7921 Memory boxes, treatment and hope
K. Thomas, J.M. Morgan. asru, 9 maple mews, maple ave, tamboerskloof, cape
town, 8001, South Africa
Issues: The majority of people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa today have
no access to life saving and life enhancing medication in the form of highly active
anti-retroviral therapies. This study examines how access to treatment and care
affects the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS through memory boxes.
Description: Memory Boxes are containers to explore and store liberating ver
sions of personal, family or community stories. As a qualitative research tool,
Memory Boxes create space for generating rich written, visual and taped accounts and legacies of people's lives. Using memory boxes and a participatory
research approach, the stories of 10 HIV positive people who live in economically
impoverished communities in South Africa are explored. The life stories of people
who have access to treatment are compared with the stories of those who have
not. All of those who have access to anti-retroviral therapy are participants in the