Islamabad: In a small clinic in Islamabad, a doctor starts her day by meeting her first patient, a 21-year-old young man named Asif* who is diagnosed with HIV.
Asif has gathered the courage to seek treatment for HIV despite the stigma surrounding this disease.
According to the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), Pakistan is only a few steps behind India and Nepal in terms of HIV health crises.
Despite many attempts, the rate of HIV infection has increased significantly over the past few years.
Pakistan has moved from a low rate to a concentrated outbreak, with the HIV rate exceeding five per cent among injecting drug users (IDUs) in at least eight major cities.
Other groups at high-risk include sex workers.
The scourge of stigma
A recent study by Dr Nasim Akhtar, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital in Islamabad and colleagues shows how stigma has a significant influence on the lives of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Pakistan.
The study titled, “Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of WHOQOL-HIV Bref Among PLWHA in Pakistan”, discovered that emotional anguish and social rejection were major obstacles to improving patients’ quality of life.
Despite advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART), the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS continues to negatively impact patients’ psychological and social well-being.
The study also validated the Urdu version of the WHOQOL-HIV Brief, which allows medical professionals to identify and address the particular cultural and emotional issues that PLWHA confront.
Dr Nasim Akhtar’s study provided crucial insights into the challenges experienced by PLWHA in Pakistan.
With more than 180,000 HIV patients in the country, only 22,947 receive free antiretroviral medication (ART) from government hospitals.
The study also included 182 participants, the majority of whom were male (73.6pc) and between the ages of 25 and 50 (57.1pc). The majority of infections were connected to intravenous drug use (53pc) and male-to-male sexual intercourse (16.5pc), with 81.3pc of subjects asymptomatic.
The study validated the Urdu version of the WHOQOL-HIV Bref tool and discovered that physical and psychological health categories scored the highest, while stigma had the greatest impact on social ties and independence.
Role of awareness campaigns
Despite the challenges, many efforts to fight HIV/AIDS are growing. Organisations such as the Punjab AIDS Control Programme and the Sindh AIDS Control Programme are working to increase awareness and provide free treatment.
In rural areas of Pakistan, the stigma around HIV/AIDS is worse. Mobile clinics in such areas are proving to be a lifeline for many patients.
Misconceptions about HIV/AIDS
HIV prevalence in Pakistan continues to be a serious public health issue.
According to studies, unprotected sexual contact is the primary way that HIV is spread in Pakistan, especially among high-risk groups like intravenous drug users, sex workers, and men who have sex with men.
The data also show that almost 60pc of people living with HIV are not aware of their status, which emphasises how critical it is to increase access to HIV testing and care.
The idea that HIV may spread through casual contact, such as handshakes, hugs, or food sharing, is among the most widespread falsehoods. This causes a great deal of unnecessary stress and prejudice against people with HIV.
Another misconception that gives the public a false sense of their safety is that the virus solely infects groups at risk, like drug users or sex workers. In reality, it can infect anyone of any age, gender, or socioeconomic status. Additionally, there is a widespread misconception that HIV is fatal, even though people can live normal lives with current antiretroviral medication (ART).
Nationally and internationally, recent developments in HIV treatment have shown hope. The life expectancy of individuals with HIV has increased significantly as a result of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Thanks to government and NGO initiatives, ART is now widely accessible in Pakistan. Several medications stop the virus from spreading, enabling people to have better lives. Additionally, patients are finding it simpler to stick to their treatment plans because of newer, more effective medicines that have fewer adverse effects.
Doctor’s Perspective
According to Dr Nasim Akhtar and other specialists, the HIV stigma extends to healthcare staff. Many healthcare workers are reluctant to handle patients with HIV because they have not received enough training, and the issue gets worse by misinformation.
Patients tend to put off getting health care out of fear, which results in late-stage diagnosis.
Their health deteriorates and treatment options are reduced as a result of this delay.
He also emphasise the importance of religious leaders and community leaders in eradicating stigma.
