Disability and HIV
The issue
Disabled people are at higher risk to become infected by HIV. Prevention, care and treatment services hardly reach people with disabilities.
The facts
There are several social and economic circumstances that make people with disabilities more vulnerable to contracting HIV than non-disabled people.
Poverty
People with disabilities often belong to the poorest and most marginalised communities, which is a significant risk factor in susceptibility to HIV.
Poor access to information on sexual and reproductive health
The global literacy rate for adults with disabilities is as low as three per cent. Low literacy rates as well as poor access to mass-media messages present real challenges for reaching people with disabilities with HIV prevention messages.
Poor access to healthcare, including HIV and AIDS services
Health clinics are often difficult to access for people with physical disabilities. Health staff often have nmisconceptions, such as people with disabilities are not sexual active. Or they show negative attitudes or abusive behaviour when confronted with the fact that people with disabilities do actually have sex. As a result people with disabilities are often sent away when they want a HIV test, because they are perceived as not needing to be tested.
Sexual abuse and exploitation
Women and girls with disabilities – living at home or in institutions – are frequently exposed to sexual violence and exploitation because of dependency and inability to report to the police.
Multiple partners
Due to stigma and discrimination, people with disabilities are less likely to marry and more likely to have a series of unstable relationships. In addition, people with disabilities sometimes use sex as a way to meet their economic needs.
What we’re calling for
Governments and policy makers rarely consider disability issues when formulating their HIV and AIDS strategic plans, despite the growing international attention for the rights of people with disabilities. However, in order to achieve universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 and the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, HIV and AIDS policies and programmes need to be made inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities.
The United Nations, donors, AIDS service organisations, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and disabled people’s organisations all play a role in making policies and programmes inclusive for persons with disabilities.
Access to sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS information and services.
Prevention of sexual violence.
Integrate HIV and AIDS in disability work.
Include disability in HIV and AIDS monitoring mechanisms.
Participation of people with disabilities in the design, implementation and evaluation of sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV and AIDS policies and programmes.
VSO works in several African and Asian countries to make HIV information and services available for people with disabilities and to lobby for more inclusive policies. HIV and disability partner organisations are working together in this.
