Accepting attitudes towards those living with HIV
Export Indicator
This is an indicator based on answers to a series of hypothetial questions about men and women with HIV. It reflects what people are prepared to say they feel or would do when confronted with various situations involving people living with HIV/AIDS.
Number of women and men who report an accepting attitude on all four of these questions:
• If a member of your family became sick with the AIDS virus, would you be willing to care for him or her in your household?
• If you knew that a shopkeeper or food seller had the AIDS virus, would you buy fresh vegetables from him/her?
• If a female teacher has the AIDS virus but is not sick, should she be allowed to continue teaching in school?
• If a member of your family became infected with the AIDS virus, would you want it to remain a secret?
All respondents aged 15–49 who have heard of AIDS.
Respondents in a general population survey who have heard of HIV are asked a series of questions about people with HIV, as follows: • If a member of your family became sick with the AIDS virus, would you be willing to care for him or her in your household? • If you knew that a shopkeeper or food seller had the AIDS virus, would you buy fresh vegetables from him/her? • If a female teacher has the AIDS virus but is not sick, should she be allowed to continue teaching in school? • If a member of your family became infected with the AIDS virus, would you want it to remain a secret? Only a respondent who reports an accepting or supportive attitude on all four of these questions enters the numerator.
Every 2-3 years
Condom type: N/A
Education: N/A
Gender: Male, Female
Geographic location: N/A
HIV status: N/A
Pregnancy status: N/A
Sector: N/A
Service Type: N/A
Target: N/A
Time period: N/A
Type of orphan: N/A
Type/Timing of testing: N/A
Vulnerability status: N/A
The earlier WHO indicator has been little used, calling into question the utility of this measure. It is possible that it was little used because so little programming effort to date has gone in to reducing stigma surrounding HIV in most countries. As the power of stigma to obstruct prevention and care efforts becomes ever clearer, however, it is likely that more national AIDS programmes will turn their attention to this area. It is expected, therefore, that use of this indicator will increase.