MANAGING HIV AND AIDS STIGMA IN THE WORKPLACE

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1 Backgroundof Study

 

The highest number of new HIV infections since the epidemic’s start occurred in 2003, when over 5 million persons, according to the UNAIDS Report (2004). At the global level, the number of persons living with HIV continues to climb – from 35 million in 2001 to 38 million in 2003. Nearly three million people died of AIDS in the same year, and over 20 million people have died overall since the disease’s first cases were discovered in 1981.

Most HIV/AIDS infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease is still growing. According to estimates, 25 million persons in sub-Saharan Africa are HIV positive. The prevalence of HIV appears to be leveling off, but this is primarily due to an increase in AIDS-related deaths and a persistent rise in new infections. According to the UNAIDS Report (2004), prevalence is dropping nationally in Uganda but continuing to rise in select nations like Swaziland and Madagascar. It is estimated that in 2003, three million persons became newly infected and 2.2 million died (75% of the three million AIDS fatalities globally that year).

HIV has little regard for social, gender, age, or ethnic borders, yet socioeconomic conditions are acknowledged to have an impact on the disease’s patterns. HIV thrives in a setting of hardship, increasing urbanization, violence, and unrest. Disparities in resource availability and patterns of migration from rural to urban areas enhance transmission. Women particularly are more vulnerable to infection in cultures and economic circumstances where they have little control over their lives.

The prevention of HIV infection remains the most significant method to the control of the epidemic, care and support for the sick and affected is becoming crucial. Thus, HIV and AIDS related interventions must address preventive, care and support issues. (2004) Development Gateway

 

In South Africa, a study is undertaken annually to establish the incidence of

 

HIV infection in pregnant woman attending prenatal clinics.

 

Extrapolating from the 2001 prenatal survey, it is projected that 4.7 million adults were infected with HIV – 2.65 million women between the ages of 15 and 49, and 2.09 million men in the same age range (Department of Public Service and Administration, 2002). (Department of Public Service and Administration, 2002).

1.2 research problem

 

hiv and aids are severe public health problems, which have socioeconomic, employment and human rights ramifications. it is known that the hiv/aids epidemic will touch every business, with prolonged staff illness, absence, and mortality affecting on productivity, employee benefits, occupational health and safety, production costs and workplace morale (code of good practice, 2000).

 

additionally hiv/aids is still an illness surrounded by ignorance, prejudice, discrimination and stigma. in the workplace unfair discrimination against people living with hiv and aids has been perpetuated by practices such as pre-employment hiv testing, dismissals for being hiv positive and the denial of employee benefits.

1.2 research problem

hiv and aids are severe public health problems, which have socioeconomic, employment and human rights ramifications. it is known that the hiv/aids epidemic will touch every business, with prolonged staff illness, absence, and mortality affecting on productivity, employee benefits, occupational health and safety, production costs and workplace morale (code of good practice, 2000).

additionally hiv/aids is still an illness surrounded by ignorance, prejudice, discrimination and stigma. in the workplace unfair discrimination against people living with hiv and aids has been perpetuated by practices such as pre-employment hiv testing, dismissals for being hiv positive and the denial of employee benefits.

The epidemic also affects business in various ways, including raising costs because of absenteeism, sickness and recruiting, organizational instability and loss of expertise, and increasing health expenses and burial costs. 2004 UNAIDS Report. As costs rise, manufacturing or service delivery doesn’t proceed according to schedules, and customers alter their purchasing plans due to the costs associated with HIV/AIDS, the disease ultimately lowers business earnings.

 

HIV/AIDS not only has an impact on employees, but it also significantly depletes family savings and resources. Just as a company experiences increased expenses due to HIV/AIDS, so does a household when members are all ill with HIV/AIDS.

One consequence of becoming too weak to work is a loss of wages. The cost of treating infections-related disorders has gone up, which is another effect. Taking care of a sick family member interferes with other people’s work schedules and reduces income. (Programs for HIV/AIDS at Work)

 

Implementing a workplace HIV/AIDS policy and prevention programs is one of the most efficient strategies to lessen and manage the impact of HIV/AIDS in the workplace.

 

The major danger to South Africa’s economic, social, and political progress continues to be HIV/AIDS. Chetty & Michel (2005) claim that although the epidemic is maturing, South Africa’s infection rates continue to place it firmly in the category of high prevalence nations. According to the Nelson Mandela/HSRC HIV/AIDS research conducted in 2002, South Africa is the nation with the highest percentage of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the world, at 14.4%. According to Dorrington et al. (2004), of the 5.6 million South Africans living with HIV/AIDS, those aged 15 to 49 have the highest prevalence, with significant disparities between males and females. New AIDS cases for 2004 were 525 000. There were 701 000 deaths overall, of which 390 000 were not related to AIDS and 311 000 were. The cumulative number of AIDS deaths by the middle of the year was 1 212 000.

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