愛滋的污名烙印

AIDS Stigma

繼美國發現愛滋病首例後，全球感染人數急遽增加，其所伴隨的愛滋污名烙印使患者遭受到社交隔離、就業問題、經濟窘境等，甚至易因污名所造成的輿論壓力產生沮喪、焦慮、孤獨、低自尊、自殺意念及較差的醫療遵從性。同時，愛滋的污名烙印也是全球愛滋流行病學防治上最關鍵的阻礙，惟有改善愛滋污名化，才能免於患者被歧視，確保其擁有就業、受教育、隱私、保密權，以及獲得資訊、醫療照護與支持的權利。因此，無論是政府機構、醫療院所或一般民眾均需勇於面對愛滋的困境與問題，結合預防、教育、諮詢輔導、檢驗、治療及法律與政治層面努力，才能真正達到去愛滋污名化。After the first case of AIDS was found in the United States, the number of global infections has rapidly increased. Due to the AIDS stigma associated with its name, patients suffered from social isolation and employment difficulties, causing problems of making a living. Moreover, because of the pressure of public opinion caused by AIDS stigma, patients expressed numerous psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, suicide ideation, and poor medical compliance. At the same time, the stigma of AIDS is also the most critical obstacle in the global AIDS epidemiological prevention and control. Only by improving the stigma of AIDS can patients be free from discrimination. Then, they can be ensured their rights on employment, education, privacy, confidentiality, access to information, medical care and support. Hence, whether they are government agencies, medical institutions or the general public, everyone should bravely face the difficulties and problems of AIDS. With prevention, education, counseling, medical testing, treatment, legal and political efforts, AIDS will be no longer discriminated.