Does the facility have procedures and protocols that protect staff members in the event of an accidental transmission?
Does it have an adequate supply of post-exposure prophylactic medications in the event of an accidental exposure?
Does it have anonymous self-testing available for staff members?
Are there policies in place to support stigma-free services — such as destigmatization training, or education about how transmission works, what to do if a staff member is exposed, and existing support networks for staff members living with HIV?
Solutions to reduce stigma
Luckily, there are tools available that can be used to address stigma in a health care setting.
First, identify what’s causing stigma. Some key drivers include:
Lack of awareness of what stigma is and what it does
e.g. Moving clients living with HIV to a separate part of a clinic if there’s an active infection that might jeopardize their health, but not fully communicating the reason for the move.
Worry about HIV transmission
e.g. Health care workers who avoid physical contact with a client might not know they are engaging in stigmatizing behavior.
e.g. If the health environment isn’t adequately resourced, staff members might decide to only wear gloves when working with people who are living with HIV, rather than wearing gloves with all clients — this may unintentionally disclose their status or result in clients feeling discriminated against.
Health facility environment
But addressing these drivers can make a big and immediate difference:
