Study shows neglect, isolation, humiliation from colleagues and many other problems force them to do so.
Study shows neglect, isolation, humiliation from colleagues and many other problems force them to do so.
NEW DELHI: A large number of Indians suffering from HIV/AIDS prefer to keep quite about their HIV status in office for the fear of losing jobs. A study on the socio-economic impact of HIV and AIDS in India conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has found that 74 per cent of HIV infected people did not disclose their status at workplace and out of the 26 per cent who have done so, 10 per cent reported discrimination. The findings of the study were released on Thursday.
Besides facing neglect, isolation (42 per cent) and humiliation (29 per cent) from colleagues, many faced other problems. About 29 per cent were refused loans and an equal percentage denied promotion, benefits were not given to 20 per cent, 16 per cent were forced to resign and 10 per cent forced to take voluntary retirement.
Around 14 per cent of men and 12 per cent of infected women reported facing discrimination at health facilities, with the discrimination being slightly higher in urban areas. Women bear the brunt of stigma more than men as more women faced neglect, isolation and verbal teasing in the family. Incidentally, women were found to be supportive of their HIV positive husbands (12.4 per cent) than men of their HIV positive wives (8.4 per cent). In fact, an overwhelming majority (84 per cent) of women in the sample informed their spouses immediately, the percentage of men who did the same is much lower (69 per cent).
However, for those working in NGOs there has been a different experience. NGO workers living with HIV have got support from their employers along with benefits like leave without pay and adjustable timings.
The education of children of HIV-affected parents becomes a problem. It was found that children from HIV households not only have a lower rate of enrolment but also very high drop-out rates. Those who do not drop out have low attendance. The girl child was found to be more affected, being more likely to be withdrawn from school. More children from HIV households dropped out of school to take care of the sick or their younger siblings, assist in household chores or to take up a job as compared to non-HIV children.
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