Another abstract from DC. Would a free legal clinic help people who have lost their jobs through discrimination against people living with HIV?
'Workplace policy' isn't going to help without a big stick.
[him] moderator
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WEPE451 - Poster Exhibition
HIV-related stigma, discrimination and job opportunity
T. Htoon, W.Y. Khaing, Myanmar Positive Group-Study Team
Myanmar Positive Group (National PLHIV Network), Board Member, Yangon, Myanmar
Background: HIV related stigma and discrimination are widely recongnised as barriers to accessing prevention, treatment and care and support services. It also causes many other negative social and economic impacts on PLHIV. Myanmar Positive Group (MPG), the National PHLIV Network in attempt to broaden understanding of the extent and forms of stigma and discrimination faced by PLHIV did a survey in 2010 with the support of GNP(+) and UNAIDS. One of the key findings of the study was a high proportion of respondents experienced HIV related stigma and discrimination at workplace. Loosing job deepens poverty which prevents them from getting proper treatment and leads into situations where PLHIV face stronger forms of stigma and discrimination. Methods: MPG chose 324 respondents abroad Myanmar (104 from Metropolitan, 55 per each area from Plain, Dry Zone, Hilly and Coastal) by random sampling. Sampling method considered gender equality and inclusion of key affected populations. Quantitative and qualitative methods such as focus group discussion and in depth interview were used. Data analysis was done by SPSS. Results:
1. 41% of respondents lost employment in the past 12 months because of their HIV-positive status.
2. 24% of respondents who lost their job stated that they faced discrimination by their employer or co-workers because of their HIV-positive status, while 30% stated that they felt obliged to, or had stopped working because of their poor health condition.
3. 15% of total respondents stated that they had been refused employment because of their HIV-positive status. Conclusions: According to this study in Myanmar, Most of PLHIV had faced Stigma and Discrimination at their workplace. This is pointing that there has no workplace policy about HIV. So we must advocate continuously to all sectors to draw a workplace policy about HIV at all workplace with technical and funding support of GNP+ and UN agencies.
http://pag.aids2012.org/abstracts.aspx?aid=4145
