Title:
Working towards the decrease of stigma in Ukraine : strategies of the All-Ukrainian Network of People living with HIV/AIDS
Authors:
Ruda, N.
Year:
2008
Serial number:
2
Journal:
Exchange on HIV/AIDS, sexuality and gender
Pages:
10
-
12
ISSN:
1871-7551
Language:
eng
Subject:
Health and Nutrition
Keywords:
HIV and AIDS
,
culture
Abstract:
With the development of the HIV epidemic in Ukraine, the focus of HIV-related stigmatization was changing. At the onset, main targets for stigmatization were foreigners. By the mid 1990s HIV-related stigma had acquired a strong link with injecting drug users. Several other groups including sex workers and men who have sex with men ‘joined the club’ of stigmatized people. Infected members of these groups underwent double stigmatization. The scale of the HIV epidemic continues to grow in Ukraine: by January 1, 2008 the number of officially reported HIV cases was 122,674. According to a survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology the level of intolerance to people living with HIV (PLWH) has decreased 42.5% to 24.6%. Conducting nationwide public events allows drawing attention to the issue of HIV-related stigma and discrimination of a large part of the population. It is important to mobilize people living with HIV as story tellers, who share personal experiences of stigma and discrimination. Involvement of PLWH in decision-making processes at local and national levels is critical to tackle the issue of stigma and discrimination.
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
Country:
Ukraine
Region:
Eastern Europe
Category:
General
Right:
© 2008 KIT
Document type:
E-article
File:
120684.pdf