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Query: UMLS:C0277787 (stigma)
 13,352 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Images of AIDS invoke fears of contagion, disability and formidable death, and moral overtones directed toward drug use, sexuality and sexual identity and freedom. Responses to these images are both private and public, and have profound consequences for individuals whose lives have been touched by the disease, both the person with AIDS and the family caregiver. The purpose of this paper is to analyze in detail 'going public,' one category of a substantive theory of AIDS family caregiving. This category was developed from a grounded theory study of 53 AIDS family members who were asked to describe their experiences as an AIDS family caregiver during an indepth interview. Data were content analyzed using constant comparative analysis. Going public referred to how AIDS family caregivers let others known that they were caring for a PWA. Specifically, going public entailed selecting appropriate persons and audiences to tell, formulating approaches to communicating information, and considering the risks and benefits of the possible choices. The description of going public as an AIDS family caregiver details the assertiveness involved in political action and social change, contrasted with the isolation and secrecy involved in maintaining relationships with others under the condition of a stigmatizing illness. Data revealed a particular emphasis on the phenomenon of 'guilt by association'. Because of their close relationship to a person with AIDS, caregivers were obligated to share the stigma of AIDS and were likewise discredited. Findings from our study emphasize the tremendous personal suffering experienced by caregivers which was associated with AIDS stigma in the form of rejection, loss of friends and harassment. Data also revealed the strong commitment of many caregivers to social activism which ranged from participating in educational efforts to marching in demonstrations. The rationale for the apparent increased activism among AIDS family caregivers compared to other groups of caregivers is explored. Going public highlights both the personal suffering and social manifestations of AIDS, significant issues to consider in planning health services for the second decade of the AIDS epidemic.
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PMID:Going public as an AIDS family caregiver. 160 63

Gay and lesbian adolescents are a socially oppressed group discriminated against by a heterosexist and homophobic society. Because of the negative stigma society places on lesbian and gay adolescents, they face numerous difficulties that require social support and intervention. Issues pertinent to social work with lesbian and gay adolescents are examined in the context of three main social institutions: the family, the social culture, and the educational setting. Suggestions are made for improving intervention with this population, including increasing personal awareness of one's own homophobia and heterosexist bias in working with client groups; educating oneself and client groups about homosexuality; establishing positive social support programs to serve lesbian and gay adolescents; advocating for sanctions to end gay and lesbian harassment in the educational system; supporting the hiring of openly gay and lesbian teachers to serve as positive role models; and advocating for the inclusion of sexual orientation information in school sex education curricula.
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PMID:Social work with gay and lesbian adolescents. 780 37

Tolerance toward HIV-positive individuals is virtually non-existent in some rural communities, and patients in these communities have routinely experienced harassment and discrimination. Several patients' experiences are detailed, and a number of providers believe that stigmatization has increased in small communities. Small-town morality and politics often worsen the stigma associated with HIV. There are also very few HIV support groups in rural America due to the shame and fear, of both the HIV patients and of the communities, which undermine the efforts of those trying to establish support groups.
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PMID:Lessons on rural sensitivity. 1136 31

A review of the limited empirical and theoretical literature indicates that current mass media representations of mental health service users appear to emphasize violence, dangerousness and criminality. This is despite the empirical evidence that indicates a decline over the last 40 years in the number of homicides carried out by people identified as suffering from mental health problems. Such inappropriate representations do much to increase stigma, ostracism, harassment and victimization of these individuals by the public. Furthermore, it can be argued that there is another repercussion of these representations and that is the subsequent government position/policy and the resulting legislation concerning care of people with mental health problems. Consequently, this paper argues that there is a clear need for psychiatric/mental health (P/MH) nurses to become more mindful of the wider, socio-political environment in which their practice occurs, particularly if psycho-social approaches to practice are adopted in their fullest sense, and as a result increase their political lobby. Such increased lobbying should occur on behalf of, and in collaboration with, service users, and accordingly the authors describe a range of activities under the broad headings of pro-active and reactive lobbying. Furthermore, it is incumbent upon P/MH nurse educationalists to prepare aspirant P/MH nurses for this lobbying role and equip them with the skills necessary to do so.
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PMID:Mass media, 'monsters' and mental health clients: the need for increased lobbying. 1188 44

This article discusses the extent of child rape in India, case studies of girl children in legal procedures, rape settings and perpetrators, public morality, and the nature of rape laws in India. It is concluded that there is no safe place for children. Currently, rapists are allowed to go free or are acquitted. Prevention and control of child rape must involve punishment of rapists. It is not appropriate that society ostracize the victim and her family. Victims should not remain silent. National Crime Records Bureau statistics reveal increases in rape during 1986-91. State figures are given for 1986-88. Madhya Pradesh had the highest reported incidence of rape in 1988. In 1993, Madhya Pradesh had a total of 2459 rapes. Nationally, 10,425 women were reported as raped in 1991. 51.7% were 16-30 years old. There were 1099 cases of pedophilia in 1991, which was an increase over 1990. Over 50% of the pedophilia cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh. The record of convictions shows very low figures. 1992 trial results of 276 rape cases indicated that only 46 persons were convicted. Victims suffer from psychological effects of embarrassment, disgust, depression, guilt, and even suicidal tendencies. There is police and prosecution indifference as well as social stigma and social ostracism of the victim and her family. Many cases go unreported. The case studies illustrate the difficulties for the victim of experiencing the rape and the social responses: police harassment, shame and fear, and occasionally public outrage. The case studies illustrate rape in familiar settings, such as schools, family homes, and neighbors and friends' homes; rape by policemen; and rape by political influentials. Most offenders are young, married, and socioeconomically poor. Mass media portrayals fuel the frustrations of poor and lonely men in cities. Rapists exhibit anti-social behavior or psychopathology. Sexual offenses are related to society's moral values.
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PMID:Child rape: facets of a heinous crime. 1215 4

Evidence suggest that AIDS prevention messages are not getting through and that people continue to deny the threat of AIDS, developments that underscore the importance of credible messengers. Evidence suggests that myths and misconceptions about AIDS remain common around the world. Even in the US, a 1/3 of the population continues to believe that the virus can be transmitted through casual contact. Although complicated and contradictory messages are partly to blame for the confusion, denial remains one of the greatest obstacles to AIDS prevention. Many people -- especially young people -- simply believe that AIDS cannot affect them. In order to overcome this barrier, effective messengers are needed, and 2 of the most effective ones are people with AIDS (PWAs) and "insider" messengers. As Richard Rector, a 34-year-old Californian with AIDS, explains, PWAs have learned to live with the disease, and some have been able to transcend it. Thus, they are able to help people overcome their fear. PWAs humanize the education process. Programs that involve PWAs have been used to educate young people in many countries, including the US, Brazil, Kenya, and Zambia. Another effective messenger is the insider, himself or herself a member of the target group. The use of an insider is particularly effective when the target group in question faces stigma or harassment, groups such as prostitutes and drug users. In Ghana, an AIDS education campaign recruited female prostitutes to serve as educators and to distribute condoms. 3 months into the project, condom use among prostitutes had increased from 13% to 94%. The effectiveness of both strategies is that the education process is not didactic but participatory.
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PMID:AIDS: credible messengers. 1231 17

Injection drug users have been overlooked in the Thai government's response to HIV/AIDS, but not in its war on drugs. They experience constant police harassment and ineffective services, and face stigma and discrimination in society and in the health-care setting. Paisan Suwannawong, of the Thai Drug Users' Network, was scheduled to speak at the Opening Ceremonies of the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok on 11 July 2004. But he was placed last on a very long agenda that included Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and Miss Universe. By the time he spoke, all the dignitaries and almost all the delegates had left the hall. In this edited version of his address, Paisan provides a personal testimonial about what it is like to be a drug user living with HIV/AIDS in Thailand, outlines the problems with the government's response, and describes other obstacles to delivering treatment and other services to drug users.
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PMID:Bangkok 2004. In Thailand, drug users have to fight for their rights. 1581 30

This study examined heterosexism that is not specifically targeted at LGB individuals, but may be experienced as antigay harassment, and may contribute to the stigma and stress they experience. LGB participants (N = 175, primarily Euro-American college students), read scenarios of heterosexuals saying or assuming things potentially offensive to gay men or lesbian women. For each scenario, they indicated extent to which they would be offended and less open about their sexuality, and their perceptions of the behaviors as evidence of antigay prejudice. Not only did respondents find the scenarios to be offensive and indicative of prejudice, but perceived offensiveness was associated with a decreased likelihood of coming out. In comparison to gay men, lesbian women and bisexuals found the scenarios more offensive and more indicative of prejudice. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research are outlined.
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PMID:Effects of subtle heterosexism on gays, lesbians, bisexuals. 1604 92

Out-of-school teenage sexual harassment is a problem for both boys and girls in our society today, and the effects of this experience can affect their lives negatively in later adult life. The data on sexual harassment, particularly those on the out-of-school teenage population in Nigeria are very scanty, as a result of the sensitive nature of, and the stigma attached to the subject. This study sought to investigate the experiences of out-of-school teenagers with regards to sexual harassment in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A survey method was used whereby a questionnaire was employed since most of the teenagers could not read. A total of 650 youths (293 males and 357 females) participated in the study. The findings indicate that sexual harassment is common out there in the streets, to the extent that it was viewed as the norm in the society by the youths. For example, 296 (83%) of all females and 152 (62%) of all males had experienced one or more forms of sexual harassment. It was also found that more females (82%) compared to 48% males experienced harassment and that anger was the most common response to the experience. The majority of the victims considered their assailants as abnormal and for the most part did not know how to handle the situation. The implications of these findings both for social/legal action and for health/sex education are discussed.
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PMID:Sexual harassment: the experience of out-of-school teenagers in Benin City, Nigeria. 1662 96

This study explored experiences and contexts of HIV risk and prevention among HIV-positive kothi-identified men in Chennai, India. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 HIV-positive men and three service providers, recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed in Tamil and translated into English. Data were analysed using a narrative thematic approach and constant comparative method. Misconceptions about HIV transmission; cultural taboos around discussing sexual behaviour and HIV; stigma related to same-sex behaviour; harassment; and the criminalization of consensual sex between men present formidable challenges to HIV prevention. Frank and open discussion about male-to-male sexual behaviour and living with HIV, which may support health and HIV prevention, may be dangerous in the context of pervasive risks due to stigmatization, violence and criminalization. Instead, culturally appropriate, multi-level interventions developed in collaboration with community stakeholders are needed to support HIV prevention among kothi-identified men in South India.
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PMID:Secondary HIV prevention among kothi-identified MSM in Chennai, India. 1848 76


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