a Department of Medical Social Services , Singapore General Hospital , Singapore.
Soc Work Health Care. 2013;52(10):881-98. doi: 10.1080/00981389.2013.827148.
Employment sustainability is one of the most pressing issues inflicting people living with HIV (PLHIV). A qualitative approach was used to elucidate the perceived challenges in sustaining their employment and the perceived barriers in re-entering the workforce for HIV patients. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 patients from an acute hospital in Singapore. The main challenges raised in sustaining employment were: (1) ability to ensure secrecy of diagnosis from employers, (2) ability to secure financial resources for treatment and sustenance, (3) ability to ensure stable health to meet job requirements, (4) ability to cognitively sit with the concerns of uncertainty and limitations in career, and (5) ability to work through discriminatory workplace practices. The perceived barriers in gaining workforce re-entry were: (1) fear of pre-employment medical screening and potential discriminatory practices at workplace, (2) concerns over health (frequent hospital admissions, physical weakness, and existing medical co-morbidities), and (3) psychosocial challenges (unstable accommodation, older age, financial issues, and trade skills limitation). The overarching factor that influences the success of sustaining and securing an employment among HIV patients is secrecy of the diagnosis. The individuals' health status, financial status and access to healthcare, and other psychosocial challenges further compound the issue.
就业可持续性是困扰 HIV 感染者（PLHIV）的最紧迫问题之一。本研究采用定性方法阐明了 HIV 患者在维持就业和重返劳动力市场方面所面临的感知挑战和障碍。研究对新加坡一家急症医院的 16 名患者进行了深入访谈。维持就业面临的主要挑战包括：（1）确保雇主对诊断保密的能力，（2）确保治疗和维持生计的财务资源的能力，（3）确保稳定的健康状况以满足工作要求的能力，（4）应对职业不确定性和限制的认知能力，（5）应对工作场所歧视性做法的能力。重返劳动力市场的障碍包括：（1）担心就业前体检和潜在的工作场所歧视性做法，（2）对健康的担忧（频繁住院、身体虚弱和现有合并症），（3）心理社会挑战（不稳定的住宿、年龄较大、财务问题和贸易技能限制）。影响 HIV 患者维持和获得就业成功的首要因素是诊断的保密性。个人的健康状况、财务状况和获得医疗保健的机会以及其他心理社会挑战进一步加剧了这一问题。
