Disabled persons : predictors for the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and primary prevention strategies

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Progress has been made in the approach to combating the spread of HIV/AIDSwith regards to the Department of Health's presentation of the HIV/AIDS/STDStrategic Plan for South Africa. However, deep concem exists with regards tospecific marginalized groups such as disabled persons within the South Africansector threatened by the spread of HIV/AIDS. The aim of this paper was toreview published academic papers on the specific ways in which disabled peopleare at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS, and the existence of primary preventionprogrammes designed and specifically aimed at the disability sector. The roles ofnon-governmental and other organisations were also looked at. The first sectionof the review focused on high-risk behaviour among disabled persons forcontracting HIV/AIDS. Existing literature covered mainly areas of intellectualdisability and psychiatric disability. Disabled persons struggle with the sameissues of good education, workers' rights, gender equality, health care and socialsupport and well-being as the general population. These issues are howeverexacerbated by struggles unique to those living with a disability. Inadequatepublic and social support increase disabled people's vulnerability to issues suchas poverty, lack of resources, and inadequate education, heightening their risk ofcontracting HIV/AIDS. The second section of the review discusses the area ofprimary prevention, explaining why prevention programmes should be tailormadefor specific needs such as those of disabled persons. Examples ofprevention programmes from the literature are looked at, as well as a preventioninitiative launched in South Africa.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University