NURS1003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Sonagachi, Peer Education, Microcredit
Topic 6: Marginalisation and HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS
Human Immuno‐deficiency Virus (HIV): is a virus that attacks the human immune system.
When the immune system is very compromised, and subject to opportunistic infections, it is
called Acquired Immuno‐ deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Transmission through:
Sexual intercourse
Blood (transfusions, needles and syringes)
Mother‐to‐child
Testing:
Blood test
Primary treatment:
antiretroviral medication (ART)
Higher risks:
Biological ‐ STIs, blood disorders, health problems in pregnant women
Behavioural – lack of condom use, sharing needles
Marginalisation and HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS is distributed unequally, reflecting patterns of vulnerability and
marginalisation
HIV/AIDS is more prevalent among marginalised groups – e.g. poor people, women,
low‐income countries
and marginalised countries in the global system
Culture and HIV/AIDS: Social Norms
Culture also impacts HIV/AIDS through social norms
Our social norms are developed through:
Parental influence
Peer influence
Religious beliefs
Cultural beliefs
Social norms may not always depict positive behaviour e.g. alcohol consumption among
young people in Australia
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Culture and HIV/AIDS: Stigma
One of the ways marginalisation occurs is through the stigmatisation of others
HIV/AIDS has been stigmatised – often by assumptions of deviant behaviour associated with
acquiring HIV
HIV/ADIS is more prevalent among stigmatised groups ‐ gay men, injecting drug users, sex
workers
Sex outside marriage, sex work, homosexuality and intravenous drug use have all been
sitgmatised – and in many countries criminalised
3 layers of HIV-related stigma
1. Self‐stigma – self‐blame, shame not worthy to receive treatment
2. Perceived stigma – fear that disclosure = stigmatisation lack of management thus
passing HIV
3. Enacted stigma – discrimination because of actual or perceived HIV status
Culture and HIV/AIDS: Human Rights
Cultural changes in the way we view HIV/AIDS can be seen in the increased reference to
human rights
Mann and Tarantola have identified 4 phases in the history of the response to HIV. They
argue that HIV/AIDS has been presented as:
1. Danger to alert people about
2. Problem of individual behaviour
3. Societally contextualised behavioural issue
4. Human‐rights‐linked challenge
“Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS exists when individuals are unable to make decisions about their
health with full freedom and information. When governments, nongovernmental
organizations (NGOS), and the private sector operate in partnership to safeguard human
rights, the opportunity to lessen vulnerability to HIV/AIDS is at its greatest.”
CASE STUDY: The United States of America
Ronald Regan – US President (1981‐1989)
Initial lack of Ronald Regan’s government response – thought to be due to
homophobia
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Human immuno deficiency virus (hiv): is a virus that attacks the human immune system. When the immune system is very compromised, and subject to opportunistic infections, it is called acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (aids) Biological stis, blood disorders, health problems in pregnant women. Behavioural lack of condom use, sharing needles. Hiv/aids is distributed unequally, reflecting patterns of vulnerability and marginalisation. Hiv/aids is more prevalent among marginalised groups e. g. poor people, women, low income countries and marginalised countries in the global system. Social norms may not always depict positive behaviour e. g. alcohol consumption among young people in australia. One of the ways marginalisation occurs is through the stigmatisation of others. Hiv/aids has been stigmatised often by assumptions of deviant behaviour associated with acquiring hiv. Hiv/adis is more prevalent among stigmatised groups gay men, injecting drug users, sex workers. Sex outside marriage, sex work, homosexuality and intravenous drug use have all been sitgmatised and in many countries criminalised.
