People living with HIV in the media: irresponsible, unhealthy and ‘other’

People living with HIV were often presented as reckless or morally deficient, according to an analysis of Irish print media between 2006 to 2016. Little attention was given to broader structural and social factors related to HIV transmission or to recent biomedical advances. This research was conducted by Dr Elena Vaughan and Dr Martin Power from the National University of Ireland, Galway and published in Health.

Despite improved access to HIV treatment and prevention, the Irish HIV epidemic remains a significant public health concern, with annual increases in the number of infections. In 2019 the number of new diagnoses of 11 per 100,000 was much higher than the European average of 6.2. The rise in HIV infections coincided with significant health funding cuts since 2008. As in other settings, people living with HIV continue to feel stigmatised and this impacts upon health in varied ways, such as not seeking out healthcare services.

The media plays a central role in the dissemination and understanding of health-related information. Additionally, they also shape narratives relating to conditions such as HIV. This discursive power is immense, with the potential to shape public opinions and impact upon policy decisions.

Read the full story at Aidsmap.