Thu 30 Oct 2014 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Jonathan Smith is among those who appear in More Than HIV, a short film addressing stigma. New research shows that while most people are educated about HIV transmission, stigma is rampant, with nearly a quarter of New Zealanders surveyed saying they would be uncomfortable being friends with someone with HIV. The New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Positive Women commissioned research was carried out by Colmar Brunton last month. It found a clear majority of people realise HIV can’t be transmitted by sharing a drinking glass, hugging someone or sharing food. However, 47 per cent of people said they would be uncomfortable having a flatmate who is living with HIV, 56 per cent said they would be uncomfortable having food prepared by someone who HIV positive. When it came to sexual contact, 87 per cent of people were uncomfortable, though 98 per cent knew HIV could not be transmitted if a condom was used. The survey also found 52 per cent of people were uncomfortable about a child playing with another child who has HIV. As for being friends with someone who is HIV positive, 23 per cent said this would make them uncomfortable. Just 24 per cent said they would be comfortable. “Discrimination is not a logical response to knowledge,” says New Zealand AIDS Foundation Executive Director Shaun Robinson. “HIV stigma is one of the most devastating parts of the virus. There are no medications that can ease the effects of social isolation, or being avoided by family or friends or treated as someone to be feared. “The impact on depression and self-esteem can affect how people look after themselves; it can make people avoid testing for HIV as they would rather not know their status. The best way to combat stigma is to show people as people, not defined by the virus.” This stigma around HIV is being directly targeted in a New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Positive Women short film, which will premiere tonight. More Than HIV shares the stories of six people living with HIV, including Jewel Grimshaw, who says the stigma can be a lot worse than the virus. “The virus is something you can manage, but the stigma is something you cannot.” Positive Women National Coordinator Jane Bruning says putting a human face to HIV enables people to see that it could be someone they know, “their sister, brother, mother, uncle, or even themselves.” She adds: “If you allow yourself to know someone as a human being then it is hard to discriminate against them. This is what the campaign is all about.” The survey stats: Knowledge of HIV transmission • 73% people answered correctly that you cannot get HIV from sharing a drinking glass with someone living with HIV • 96% people answered correctly that you cannot get HIV from hugging someone living with HIV • 80% people answered correctly that you cannot get HIV from sharing food with someone living with HIV Attitudes towards people living with HIV • 47% said they would be uncomfortable having a flatmate who is living with HIV • 23% said they would be uncomfortable being friends with someone living with HIV. Only 1 in 4 (24%) people said they would be comfortable with this. • 56% said they would be uncomfortable having food prepared by someone who is living with HIV.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 30th October 2014 - 4:47pm