AIDS 2010 - Vienna 18-23 July 2010 - XVIII International AIDS Conference

Framing Positive Perceptions and Practice: Analysing and Addressing Stigma	WEAD01

Type:

Oral Abstract Session

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Location:

SR 5

Schedule:

11:00 - 12:30, 21.07.2010

Code:

WEAD01

Chairs:

Ivan Cruickshank, Jamaica
Yusef Azad, United Kingdom

Presentations in this session:

11:00
WEAD0101
Slides with audio Introduction
Presented by Yusef Azad, United Kingdom

11:05
WEAD0102
Abstract
Slides with audio The intersection of race, gender, sexual orientation and HIV: understanding multi-dimensional forms of stigma and discrimination experienced by women living with HIV in Ontario, Canada
Presented by Carmen Logie, Canada
C. Logie¹, L. James², W. Tharao², M. Loutfy³
¹University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work, Toronto, Canada, ²Women's Health in Women's Hands CHC, Toronto, Canada, ³Women's College Research Institute, Toronto, Canada

11:20
WEAD0103
Abstract
Slides with audio Stigma and survival in older adult sexual minority men living with HIV/AIDS in New York City
Presented by Rahwa Haile, United States
R. Haile¹, M. Padilla², E. Lorenzo-Blanco²
¹Columbia University and NYPI HIV Center, New York, United States, ²University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, United States

11:35
WEAD0104
Abstract
Slides with audio Significant changes in HIV stigma resulting from randomized interventions among male and female migrant construction workers in Shanghai, China
Presented by Liviana Calzavara, Canada
L. Calzavara¹, L. Kang², H. Fang², H. Wang³, L. Xu⁴, M. Yang⁵, J. Ren², L. Light¹, T. Myers¹, Q.-C. Pan², R.S. Remis¹, Canada-China Team
¹University of Toronto, HIV Social, Behavioural, and Epidemiological Studies Unit, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Canada, ²Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China, ³Huangpu CDC, Shanghai, China, ⁴Nanhui CDC, Shanghai, China, ⁵Xuhui CDC, Shanghai, China

11:50
WEAD0105
Abstract
Slides with audio Turning the tide: overcoming stigma and discrimination through HIV status disclosure by religious leaders living with HIV - lessons from Kenya
Presented by Jane Mwaura Nganga
J. Mwaura Ng'ang'a^1,2
¹Kenya Network of Religious Leaders Living with of Personally Affected by HIV(KENERELA+), National Coordinator, Nairobi, Kenya, ²International Network of Religious Living with or Personally Affected by HIV, Johannesburg, South Africa

12:05
WEAD0106
Abstract
Slides with audio Treatment access for positive MSM in the Asia Pacific: lessons learned from an analysis about the interplay between structural barriers and cultural constraints that impact on individual and community health outcomes in six countries
Presented by Martin Choo, Malaysia
M. Choo¹, V.R. Nair², A. Lim³, B.K. Raju⁴, N. Kustantonio⁵, J. Jan⁶, T. Wong⁶, M.P. Thet⁷, R. Baldwin⁸, A. Chen⁸
¹Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA), Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ²NIPASHA+, New Delhi, India, ³Action for AIDS Singapore, Singapore, Singapore, ⁴Blue Diamond Society, Chitwan, Nepal, ⁵HIVERS, Jakarta, Indonesia, ⁶Kuala Lumpur AIDS support Services Society (KLASS), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ⁷The HELP, Mandalay, Myanmar, ⁸Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV (APN+), Bangkok, Thailand

12:20
WEAD0107
Slides with audio Concluding remarks
Presented by Ivan Cruickshank, Jamaica

Rapporteur reports

Track F report by Eka IAKOBISHVILI

In this session stigma was viewed from different perspectives. Presentations included multi-dimensional forms of stigma and discrimination experienced by women in Ontario, Canada, treatment access in six Asia Pacific countries, engagement of religious leaders in breaking stigma in Kenya, interventions in reducing stigmatisation in China and stigma of elder homosexual and bisexual men in New York, USA.

The stigmatisation process was described in three major levels: Micro (individual), Meso (community), and Macro (structural) levels as well as types of stigma were defined (normative, internalised, enacted, symbolic, layered). The number of fields in which stigma is experienced were also highlighted: HIV related stigma, sexism, violence against women, sexual violence, racism, homophobia, transphobia, sex work stigma, stigma relating to drug use and for each of these stigmas relevant determinants were also discussed. Resilience was called for at micro level stigma; through social support groups and resistance at meso level stigma; and through advocacy and fight to change at macro level.

A study presented by CERIA focused on six target countries where similar problems of stigma have been identified (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Singapore). Cultural differences and complexities have been one of the major barriers for the research and it was shown that local cultures had to be taken into account in assessing treatment access and individual life chances.

A presentation from Kenya highlighted the need to mobilise faith leaders to take up the issue of VCT. Religious leaders are encouraged to speak about their HIV status in families, communities, country and globally, encourage religious leaders to live openly as agents of change.

An example from China showed that stigma can be reduced through interventions to address misperceptions about HIV transmission, while a study from New York showed stigma and discrimination experienced by elder homosexual and bisexual men.

LAPC report by Bernard GARDINER

This session included one leadership presentation featuring the work of INERELA+ Kenya branch. This network of religious leaders living with or affected by HIV is implementing the SAVE model of prevention – Safer Practices, Access to treatment and nutrition, Voluntary counseling and testing, and Empowerment. ‘Affected by’ is defined as an immediate family member living with of having died with AIDS.

There are currently 46 support groups of religious leaders in Kenya. Jane Ng’angla, National Co-ordinator of INERELA+ described the need to overcome a legacy of faith based organsiations being seen as creators of stigma and discrimination through moralization, denial, inaction and misaction in the 80s and 90s. Instead of equating HIV with sin, INERELA asserts that HIV is a virus, not a moral issue.

One participant questioned whether this model may be useful for migrant communities in developed countries, but the presenter had no knowledge of such work. However, she highlighted that INERELA is an international network based in South Africa, and work has started in places beyond Africa such as India.

One action INERELA has facilitated was an apology issued by Archbishop Emeritus B Nzimbi who said “We want to apologize for not doing what we should have done and for doing what we should not have done. We need to wake up to meet the needs and challenges of the pandemic”. This is the kind of action being taken to ‘Turn the tide’.