Survey: Psychological and social need of people living with HIV in Cyprus

The People Living with HIV and AIDS patients (PLWH) in Cyprus is a community that doesn’t have a strong public voice, mainly due to social stigma. In a research conducted by the University of Nicosia, in cooperation with the AIDS Solidarity Movement and Gregorios Clinic, the Cyprus HIV/AIDS Reference Clinic, the community was able to express its main demands.

Some of the main demands of PLWH, as recorded by the research, include: increase of the dedicated monthly allowance to €500-€600 from the amount of €300 provided since 2018; update of the national legislation in order to protect their right to apply for employment without the prerequisite of submitting medical results revealing their HIV status; continued training of all health professionals around issues related to HIV/AIDS and the social stigma attached to it, across all services of the State Health Services Organisation, as well as in private health centres; further support of the Gregorios Clinic by the state, in order to achieve an update of the services and modernisation of its operational processes; increase in the number of dedicated doctors and nurses employed. On top of these, there is a stated demand for closer and more frequent contact of PLHW with the health professionals at Gregorios, and an increasing demand for easier access to ART (Antiretroviral Treatment).

The survey was conducted during the period December 1st 2020 to May 31st 2021 (6 months), via a self-completing questionnaire (in Greek and English) and personal interviews. The aim of the research was to analyse and better understand the conditions and quality of life of PLHW in Cyprus. In parallel, the study aimed at recording their needs in order to update and improve the services offered and help create new ones, which will be able to better satisfy their current needs.

Comparing the findings of the current survey (2021) to the findings of the one conducted 14 years ago (in 2007), it is quite apparent that the stigmatisation of PLWH in Cyprus continues to exist on multiple levels. The need to increase the number of health professionals, doctors as well as nurses in Gregorios Clinic is stated in both surveys, while its workload has increased to more than double in the past decade. Additionally, the necessity for educating and training health professionals, both in the public and the private sectors, is stated again, as a precondition in order to reach zero stigma in the sectors of healthcare, but also in state services, professional environments, and in interpersonal relationships.

Research findings in detail

The research focused on 19 areas of needs of PLWH monitored at Gregorios, such as housing, income, use of substances, management of stress, anxiety and depression, love life (sexual and romantic relationships), confidence, education, equal opportunities in employment, relationships with doctors, relationships with family and friends, and many more. The percentage of people stating that they faced challenges with stress, anxiety and depression during the past 12 months almost doubled from 36% in 2007 to 63.6% in 2021. At the same time, the problems stated in the 2007 research (unemployment, obstacles in transportation to and from Gregorios, loneliness and social isolation) were stated again in the 2021 research. On top of that, there were some additional statements that must be further examined, such as anxiety as a result of drug use and because of the shortage in HIV treatment medicines in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as stated suicidal tendencies.

A 52% of participants stated that they have made use of drugs at least once in the past, half of which has done so in the last 12 months. 16% of participants stated that they face addiction problems related to either drug or alcohol use.

Among its positive results, the research showed that 97.4% of PLWH who participated in the survey stick to their antiretroviral treatment, while 81.8% knows that the virus is in undetectable levels, making transmission impossible^[1]. In addition, 8% of participants stated that they always reveal their HIV status to their sexual partners, while 53.8% stated that they selectively reveal their status. Out of 37.7% of participants who stated that they have a steady partner, 2 out of 3 have already shared their HIV positive status with their partners.

The vast majority of participants (85.7% of all participants self-identified as homosexuals) stated that on top of the HIV/AIDS-related stigma, they also experience stigma and discrimination relating to their sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity (multileveled stigma). Participants referred to the negative attitude towards homosexuality as a source of social stigma in both surveys (2007 & 2021). The survey findings also suggest that HIV-related stigma is very visible within the LGBTQI+ community, in healthcare settings outside Gregorios (dentists, nurses who provide other medical services such as X-Rays), in the work environment, within the family, and is even related to parental alienation, negatively affecting the exercise of parental rights.

Commenting on the findings, Professor Constantinos N. Phellas, Head of the Research Team – Responsible for the Scientific Overview and Senior Vice Rector of the University of Nicosia, stated: “The main aim of the research is to provide the tools for up-to-date policy making and state interventions targetting the community of PLWH, hoping that they will be able to significantly contribute towards achieving better quality of life for all citizens living with HIV“.

Dr. Ioannis Demetriades, Head of Gregorios Clinic, said that this survey is an extremely important tool for updating and modernising the services provided by Gregorios to PLWH. He added: “We want to practically support the community of PLWH via improving their everyday life, and we will do so, together with the support of the State, in order for Gregorios to continue providing a much-needed shelter for these people”.

Research Team

Professor Constantinos N. Phellas, Senior Vice Rector of the University of Nicosia, was responsible for the scientific overview of all the data analysis of the research. The scientific team was consisted of Dr. Ioannis Demetriades, Pneumologist, Head of Gregorios Clinic, Dr. George Shiakallis, infectious disease specialist, at Gregorios Clinic, Georgia Charalampous, PhD candidates at theUniversity of Nicosia, Ivonne Valdes Paez Petrou, Clinical Psychologist of the AIDS Solidarity Movement, positioned at Gregorios Clinic, Zoe Kakota, board member of the AIDS Solidarity Movement, and Christos Krasidis, Executive Coordinator of the AIDS Solidarity Movement.

You can find the survey results and findings here:

Greek: http://CyCheckpoint.org/2020-21/2021-survey-greek.pdf

English: http://cycheckpoint.org/2020-21/2021-survey-english.pdf

Find the Fact Sheet here:

Greek: http://cycheckpoint.org/2020-21/Fact-Sheet-gr.pdf

English: http://cycheckpoint.org/2020-21/Fact-Sheet-en.pdf

^[1] U=U: Undetectable equals Untransmittable. http://StopHIVstigma.com