HIVAIDS IN SOCIETY
Discussion Forum- HIV Stigmas ; Cultural Barriers
Discussion Topic
For this week’s discussion, students are to read the below scenario and answer the following questions:
Scenario:
Jesse is a 22-year-old man who tested positive for HIV two years ago. His suspicions are that hes been HIV positive since his adolescence. You are the peer worker assigned to help Jesse with adherence issues. You have been seeing him for the past nine months. During the sessions, he has shared his concerns about his increase in alcohol/drug use and depression. Over the past month, Jesse has frequently mentioned his fear of failing his HAART regimen.
The thought of having to switch medications because of failing his current regimen has caused Jesse to feel depressed; he has been on the current regimen for one year. The combination of fear of failing his HIV treatment in addition to disappointing his doctor has caused Jesses depression to worsen. Over the past nine months, Jesse has also been concerned with his body image. Although he works out in the gym regularly with weights, hes never satisfied with his physique. He has noticed changes in body fat buildup throughout his body, loss of fat in the face area, and his limbs have thinned. Jesse has also expressed concern about the effects of long-term treatment. Jesse recently read an article in an HIV/AIDS magazine that heart disease is another side effect of long-term treatment.
Besides his cousin, Jesse does not have anyone else he can talk to about his HIV status. But he rarely shares with his cousin his sex life involving men he meets at parks or in clubs. He admits to his peer worker that he often finds extra pills in his bottles at the end of the month. Jesse feels healthy, but his doctor has told him that his CD4 count (T-cells) is dropping and his viral load is increasing.
Discussion Questions
How would you address Jesses concerns and work with him on adherence issues?
At least 250 words. APA Format.
Article: Facts About HIV Stigmas
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/hiv-stigma/index.html
Social Aspects of HIV Infection
I. Defining Stigma
A. Erving Goffman defined stigma as
An attribute that is deeply discrediting that reduces the bearer from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one.
B. Stigma not only affects the sufferer, but also affects significant others and loved ones, close associates, social groups, and communities.
C. Stigma leads to patterns of prejudice, which include:
1. Devaluing
2. Discounting
3. Discrediting
4. Discriminating against those affected
II. Categories of Stigma
A. Stigma falls into 3 categories:
1. Abominations of the bodyphysical deformities.
2. Blemishes of characterweak will, domineering or unnatural passions, rigid beliefs, or dishonesty.
a. They are inferred from mental disorders, imprisonment, addiction, homosexuality, unemployment, suicidal attempts, or radical political behavior.
3. Tribal stigma of race, nation, and religion beliefs that are transmitted through lineages and equally contaminate all members of a family.
III. Stigma and HIV
A. HIV-related stigma refers to all unfavorable attitudes, beliefs, and policies directed toward people perceived to have HIV/AIDS.
B. According to Goffman, diseases associated with the highest degree of stigma share common attributes:
1. The person with the disease is seen as responsible for having the illness.
2. The disease is progressive and incurable.
3. The disease is not well understood among the public.
4. The symptoms cannot be concealed.
C. HIV infection fits the profile of a condition that carries a high level of stigmatization.
D. How?
1. People infected with HIV are often blamed for their condition and many people believe HIV could be avoided if individuals made better decisions.
2. Although HIV is treatable, it is nevertheless a progressive, incurable disease.
3. HIV transmission is poorly understood by some people in the general population, causing them to feel threatened by the mere presence of the disease.
4. Although asymptomatic HIV infection can often be concealed, the symptoms of HIV-related illness cannot.
IV. Internalized Stigma
A. When someone living with HIV or AIDS imposes stigmatizing beliefs and actions on themselves.
B. Why? Since they are members of the same cultural group as those who stigmatize them, they too ascribe to the same values and norms.
C. Therefore, they have the same idea about HIV and what it means to live with it.
D. Internalized Stigma leads to:
1. Feelings of worthlessness
2. Suicide
3. Hopelessness
4. Inferiority
5. Self-isolation
6. Feelings that there is no future
V. Secondary Stigma
A. Is experienced by relatives and extended
Social Aspects of
HIV Infection:
Stigma ;
Discrimination
Defining Stigma
? Erving Goffman defined stigma as:
An attribute that is deeply
discrediting that reduces the
bearer from a whole and usual
person to a tainted, discounted
one.
? Stigma not only affects the
sufferer, but also affects
significant others and loved ones,
close associates, social groups,
and communities.
Stigma (contd)
Stigma leads to patterns of
prejudice, which include:
Devaluing
Discounting
Discrediting
Discriminating against
those affected
Categories of Stigma
Stigma falls into 3 categories:
1) Abominations of the bodyphysical
deformities.
2) Blemishes of characterweak will,
domineering or
unnatural passions, rigid beliefs, or dishonesty.
They are inferred from mental disorders,
imprisonment, addiction, homosexuality,
unemployment, suicidal attempts, or radical
political behavior.
3) Tribal stigma of race, nation, and religion
beliefs that are transmitted through lineages
and
equally contaminate all members of a family.
Stigma and HIV
HIV-related stigma refers to
all unfavorable attitudes,
beliefs, and policies directed
toward people perceived to
have HIV/AIDS.
According to Goffman,
diseases associated with the
highest degree of stigma
share common attributes:
Stigma and HIV (contd)
1. The person with the disease is seen
as responsible for having the
illness.
2. The disease is progressive and
incurable.
3. The disease is not well understood
among the public.
4. The symptoms cannot be
concealed.
? HIV infection fits the profile of a
condition that carries a high level of
stigmatization.
Stigma and HIV (contd)
How?
People infected with HIV are often
blamed for their condition and many
people believe HIV could be avoided if
individuals made better decisions.
Although HIV is treatable, it is
nevertheless a progressive, incurable
disease.
HIV transmission is poorly understood by
some people in the general population,
causing them to feel threatened by the
mere presence of the disease.
Although asymptomatic HIV infection
can often be concealed, the symptoms
of HIV-related illness cannot.
Internalized Stigma
When someone living with HIV or
AIDS imposes stigmatizing beliefs
and actions on themselves.
Why?
Since they are members of the
same cultural group as those who
stigmatize them, they too ascribe
to the sa
