Living in the Shadows of China's HIVAIDS Epidemics by Shelley Torcetti

Author:Shelley Torcetti [Torcetti, Shelley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781032091327
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2021-06-30T00:00:00+00:00

Conclusion

In considering the current GBP, it becomes clear that the implementation of these practices is flexible and culturally adaptable. While this is necessary it does allow for inconsistencies in adoption and usage across different HIV epidemics. Countries pick and choose which (if any) GBPs are most suited to the epidemics within their borders. When there is a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of a country’s differing epidemics (know your epidemic, know your response), then it seems reasonable to assume that GBPs will be used in an optimal manner. Unfortunately this is not always the case and may result in ineffective or insufficient HIV/AIDS programming.

There are a myriad of challenges facing state governments in addressing HIV epidemics, both in attempting to meet the needs of PLWHA and protecting those who have not been infected. As discussed, these challenges become more complicated and perhaps even appear insurmountable when matters of cultural norms or biases and stigma are added. Practices that may appear optimal may be ineffective due to the reluctance of communities to go against accepted cultural norms or attract stigma by openly acknowledging their participation in behaviour that is perceived to be unacceptable by the general population.

While Beijing appears to be increasingly invested in addressing the HIV/AIDS situation funding constraints, lack of scale-up of existing efforts and a reluctance to include ‘outsiders’, such as NGOs, INGOs and the UN in what is considered a state problem, hamper efforts to move towards a reduction of new infections. The success of GBP initiatives often relies on NGO and CBO participation, both for the dissemination of information but also for the provision of HIV services. China’s preferred method for service delivery is through official governmental hospitals and clinics. The implications for this include insufficient attendance by key populations and possible under-reporting of HIV/AIDS cases, due to the fact that most of the almost 2,000 sentinel surveillance sites are located in government-run establishments.

Finally, it is important to realise that GBP changes over time. What was appropriate at the beginning of the pandemic may no longer be appropriate now. As the understandings of the underlying causes and behavioural risks that intensify HIV infectiousness increase and change, so too do the GBPs. As an effective vaccine becomes more likely, the mutability of GBP keeps pace. What does not change is the fact that individuals have HIV/AIDS. They are not abstract entities but real people with real needs. GBP that addresses the needs of PLWHA rather than concentrating on the disease is always appropriate. Understanding the multifarious nature of the problem provides a foundation for the acceptance of human security frameworks as advantageous in HIV/AIDS epidemics.

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