Africans In England Need More HIV Prevention Services
August 4th, 2008 | by admin |
A large-scale survey of Africans in England shows that targeted HIV prevention services are required to improve people’s confidence and skills in order to avoid passing on or getting HIV.
More than 4,000 Africans took part in the BASS Line 2007 Survey undertaken by Sigma Research of the University of Portsmouth. The work was commissioned by the African HIV Policy Network and funded by the Department of Health as part of the National African HIV Prevention Programme (NAHIP), in order to provide better information about gaps in HIV prevention within England’s African population.
The survey findings provide public health planners with clear information about where spending should be prioritised, according to the report authors. While the vast majority of people taking part in the survey had a clear understanding of how HIV is transmitted, one-in-five had no idea that effective treatment for HIV exists and more than a third didn’t know these treatments work better the earlier they are taken. People’s experiences of HIV in their countries of origin may influence their awareness of HIV and its treatment. In addition, it was widely believed having HIV could be a reason for deportation from the UK — which is not the case. Such gaps in awareness are likely to have a ‘profound effect’ on the chances of African people seeking HIV-related services in the UK.
About half a million Africans live in the UK, according to the 2001 Census and the Health Protection Agency estimates about 25,000 (one in 20) are infected with HIV whether they know it or not.
The sooner a person is diagnosed after being infected with HIV, the more likely they will live a long and relatively healthy life.
Most respondents who had never had an HIV test said they did not feel at risk of HIV. However, just over 10 percent (more than 400 people) said they would like to know if they were infected but weren’t sure how to go about being tested.
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Angelina Namiba, programme leader at the National African HIV Prevention Programme says: ‘The report re-affirms the importance of making HIV testing services, treatment and information easily available and accessible. There needs to be a collective effort by healthcare professionals, community based organisations, religious institutions, other stakeholders and the public in general to ensure that stigma around HIV testing is addressed and confidentiality is maintained.’
The report argues that one of the priorities should be to tackle the lack of confidence felt by those who believe that HIV transmission is out of their hands. More than a third of people who had no reason to think they had HIV said they were not in control of whether or not they became infected. Among people with diagnosed HIV infection, one quarter said they lacked the ability to make sure that they did not pass on HIV to their sexual partners.
Other findings highlight the need to improve how condoms are regarded and used by Africans in England. Many said they didn’t want to carry or use condoms because of fears of how this would make them look to others, although researchers said they were encouraged by the finding that three-quarters had used a male or female condom while having sex in the past year. However, about one third of those who had used a condom said that it had torn or slipped. The report argues that when condoms are lubricated and used properly, such mishaps are rare and the findings show there is an ‘obvious need’ for information to improve how people use condoms.
Catherine Dodds, Senior Research Fellow at Sigma Research, said: ‘The findings clearly identify the kinds of HIV prevention that are most needed by African people living in England. Having detailed information about which Africans need the most support will help the organisations that fund and deliver services to better target their scarce resources in an environment where HIV prevention often takes a back seat to diagnosis, treatment and care.’
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