Abstract #218  -  HIV, AIDS and Disability: A New Agenda for Integration of Interventions in Southern Africa
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Dr. Stephanie Nixon - UKZN
Additional Authors:  Dr.  Jill Hanass-Hancock,
Aim: Rehabilitation for HIV positive individuals with disabilities is a new challenge in developing countries where public ARV treatment programmes have been introduced. However, there is little awareness of the specific nature of the challenge. In particular, there are two general categories of people with disabilities who need assistance and two different sets of challenges. On the one hand, there are people with disabilities who become infected and, in turn, who need HIV&AIDS treatment. On the other hand, there are HIV infected people who acquire disabilities as a result of being infected who need access to rehabilitation services. The challenge is that the different needs of these categories have yet to be built into HIV&AIDS programming. This is in addition to that of common problems facing people with disabilities irrespective of their status. For example, difficulties with accessing HIV treatment and prevention as well as rehabilitation services is a common problem for people with disabilities. Likewise there are still misconceptions about people with disabilities despite a 2004 global survey which showed that they were as likely as their able bodied peers to have unprotected sex, use drugs and, particularly in the case of women, to be exposed to sexual abuse.
Method / Issue: This presentation outlines the recent history of developments with regard to research and interventions on people with disabilities in the context of HIV&AIDS. The purpose is to draw attention to the general and specific challenges for including them within HIV&AIDS and rehabilitation programmes and to provide a framework for integration of efforts that address people with disabilities.
Results / Comments: The presentation is made in the context of ‘disability and HIV&AIDS’ now being part of the international AIDS agenda as a result of civil society action, particularly in Africa, advocacy at the large AIDS conferences notably Mexico and Dakar 2008, as well as the very recent release of a UNAIDS policy document on HIV&AIDS and disability. Two related but distinct foci are the basis of our discussion: 1) The experiences of people living disabilities and with HIV and AIDS with regard to accessing rehabilitation services and treatment; 2) The particular risks and vulnerabilities of people with disabilities with regard to HIV prevention and treatment.
Discussion: Research and strategic assessments suggests integration of intervention models in view of: • The scale of discrimination of people living with disabilities; • Rapid increase in demand for rehabilitation services as public ARV treatment programmes have expanded in Southern Africa; • Growing awareness of synergies that can be created between home-based care and community-based rehabilitation; • Increasing recognition of sexual and reproductive health as an area requiring attention in the context of HIV/AIDS coupled with awareness of the need to acknowledge the particular and additional vulnerability of women with disabilities;
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