Experience-based HIV research

The Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV will next month launch a research programme aimed at collecting data on the experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Mock graves at a Zimbabwe HIV and AIDS conference in 2011 to symbolise how many children died due to AIDS related illnesses in 2010.
Mock graves at a Zimbabwe HIV and AIDS conference in 2011 to symbolise how many children died due to AIDS related illnesses in 2010.

Entitled “People Living With HIV Stigma Index” the programme aims to collect and document information about the experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS related to stigma, discrimination and human rights. As part of its objectives, the PLHIV Stigma Index aims to empower individual people living with HIV, their networks and local communities.

ZNPP+ National Advocacy Officer, Tonderai Chiduku, said: “We will be launching the research design on March 28. We intend to train 10 supervisors who are going to work with 92 research assistants to interview a total of 1 000 people living with HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe.

Chiduku said the programme was meant to aid the country’s efforts to achieve zero discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS while at the same time effecting policy changes.

He added that another aim of the programme was to encourage people on anti-retroviral drugs to adhere to their treatment.

The PLHIV Stigma Index, according to Chiduku, will target schools and communities and increase the evidence base for policies and programmes to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination in Zimbabwe.

Post published in: Health
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