Preston-Whyte Eleanor M
a School of Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , 4041 , South Africa.
Afr J AIDS Res. 2003;2(2):89-94. doi: 10.2989/16085906.2003.9626563.
Written before the announcement of a national roll out of antiretroviral treatment in South Africa, this paper uses three illustrative vignettes to draw attention to some major areas of HIV/AIDS vulnerability related to the themes of sex and secrecy within households and families. The vulnerability, particularly of women and young girls, within domains traditionally regarded as 'safe', is noted. The dangers for the spread of the epidemic, of the typical 'silence' between generations around sex and the immersion of the younger generation in worlds which are essentially hidden from adults, is also commented upon. The silence of stigma and nondisclosure are, further, argued to be essentially inimical to sociability and what has been referred to by various sociologists as communitas, community and to the open expression of love, caring and recognition for basic humanity. Even the confidentiality enjoined by law and medical ethics is seen to have a negative side, when it comes to caring for and comforting AIDS infected and affected family and community members. The paper ends with a call for researchers to be aware that AIDS stigma may render the very act of research a source of danger to those affected by HIV and AIDS.
本文写于南非宣布全国推广抗逆转录病毒治疗之前，通过三个示例短文，提请人们关注与家庭内部性和隐秘主题相关的艾滋病毒/艾滋病脆弱性的一些主要领域。文中指出了在传统上被视为“安全”的领域内，尤其是妇女和年轻女孩所面临的脆弱性。还评论了代际之间围绕性话题的典型“沉默”以及年轻一代沉浸在基本上对成年人隐瞒的世界中对疫情传播的危险。此外，耻辱感和不透露信息的沉默被认为本质上不利于社交以及各种社会学家所提及的共同体、社区，也不利于对基本人性的爱、关怀和认可的公开表达。当涉及照顾和安慰受艾滋病感染及影响的家庭和社区成员时，即使是法律和医学伦理所要求的保密也被认为有负面作用。本文最后呼吁研究人员意识到，艾滋病耻辱感可能使研究行为本身对受艾滋病毒和艾滋病影响的人构成危险。
