Discrimination against HIV carriers helps spread virus

GROWING DISCRIMINATION against people with HIV is causing the spread of the virus, a soon-to-be-published study claims.

The study, carried out by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen), cites growing ignorance about and stigmatisation of people with HIV.

Among its findings, detailed at the annual all-Ireland Gay Health Forum in Dublin yesterday, are that people with HIV are the third most discriminated against group in the State after Travellers and intravenous (IV) drug users.

"Almost 40 per cent of people said that if someone in their family had HIV they would prefer to keep it secret, while 24 per cent said they would have concerns about eating a meal prepared by someone who is HIV positive," said Ciarán McKinney, director of gay HIV strategies with Glen.

The study finds 80 per cent of people who are HIV positive experienced some discrimination and the greatest proportion of this came from friends and family, followed by service providers. At the end of last year, there were 4,781 people with HIV, of which 1,045 (21 per cent) were gay men. The highest proportions were heterosexuals (1,818) followed by IV drug users (1,381).

Noel Walsh, a columnist with Gay Community News, said that with modern anti-retroviral drugs people were living "long, healthy lives". However, a growing stigma was discouraging people from disclosing their status to potential partners.

He called for increased funding for the Gay Men's Health Project's campaign "Stamp Out Stigma" as well as for psycho-social counselling to encourage people to disclose their status.

The Gay Men's Health Service annual report, published yesterday, found the age of those attending the clinic is falling, with a quarter of those attending in 2006/7 aged under 23. Some 5 per cent were under the age of 20.

The service provides screening for STIs and HIV testing. An increasing proportion of men attending are from overseas.