#Kingston, May 14, 2019 – Jamaica – Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, is calling for elimination of the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS in order to stem the spread of the virus.
His appeal comes in light of the
findings of the 2017 HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Attitude, Behaviour and Practice (KABP)
survey, which not only indicated that accepting
attitudes towards persons living with HIV/AIDS
remained low, but declined from 14.3 per cent in 2012, when the last
survey was done, to 11.6 per cent in
2017.
The survey, conducted by Hope
Research Group, sampled 2,000 persons aged 15-49. The findings were revealed at
a function at the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa in St. Andrew on May 9. Among the questions posed was a willingness to
purchase fresh vegetables from a vendor known to be HIV-positive, which is a
common measure of discriminatory attitude used in population-based surveys.
The research indicated that only
23.7 per cent of persons, 15-49 years old, either agreed or strongly agreed
that they were willing to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from a HIV-positive
vendor.
Dr. Tufton argued that it is this
fear of stigma and rejection that contributes to a delay in persons accessing
HIV care.
“Persons, who may have signs and
symptoms or who know their status, are unwilling to turn up at the hospitals or
the clinics to be treated… hence increasing their risks,” he pointed out.
In emphasising his point, the
Minister cited the case of an actress in a local HIV education commercial, who was
branded as being an HIV patient.
“It really highlights the
challenges we face in our society…We have to change that mindset…Let’s stop
the discrimination,” he stressed.
The Health and Wellness Minister pointed
to the 2017 United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS report on confronting
discrimination, which noted that people living with HIV who perceive high levels
of HIV-related stigma were 2.4 times more likely to present late for care.
“Part of what is coming out of
the analysis is that a big part of the treatment and viral suppression and the
failure to achieve higher targets is linked directly to the stigma issue. It is
not unique to HIV; we are struggling as a society with mental illness and
stigma also, where persons who are perceived to be mentally challenged are
abandoned because they are “mad” and not curable,” he said.
Turning to other findings in the
survey, Minister Tufton said there was an increase in multiple partner
relationships among persons 15 to 24 years old.
“Some 65 per cent of persons
reported having multiple partner relationships in 2017 compared to 58.1 per
cent in 2012… . Having multiple sex
partners increases the risk of sexually transmitted infection (STI), including
HIV,” he noted.
He said the survey also indicated
that knowledge of HIV transmission has declined when compared to 2012.
“The 2017 survey tells us that
among the cohort of persons, ages 15 to 24, only 32.9 per cent were able to correctly
identify ways of preventing transmission –which is 100 per cent condom use and
one faithful partner – while rejecting major misconceptions in terms of
transmission and prevention. There is a challenge there because a lot of
persons still buy into some of these misconceptions,” he noted.
He added that this represents a
decline in correct knowledge over 2012 among males and females, and more so
females.
Dr. Tufton said the research is critical as it will inform the Ministry’s HIV-prevention and treatment programmes and interventions.
Release: JIS
Contact: Chris Patterson
Photo Caption: Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton.
Donald De La Haye Photo