Barriers to Avail Health Related Services by the Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Manipur

Abstract

This paper reports on the results of eight (8) semi-strctured focus group discussions and twenty (20) case studies carried out with 100 women living with HIV/AIDS in four districts viz., Imphal East, Imphal West, Churachandpur and Ukhrul of Manipur, one of the north-eastern states of India bordering Myanmar. In this paper, we analyse the stigma and discrimination faced by the women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) at the health care facilities where they seek treatment. Findings show that the health care sector is perhaps the most conspicuous context of HIV/AIDS related discrimination, stigmatization and denial. Most of the participants described their experiences vis-a-vis the denials of basic services in seeking treatment for general illness. These impediments included early discharge from hospital, delays in treatment, slow service, postponed surgery, conditional treatment and unwilling to do any job which involves blood. They also spoke to how medical staff refused to touch them and gave oral medicines rather than injections and denied medical treatment such as administering insulin, vitamin and drip injection. Another area in which stigma and discrimination affect women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) is reproductive health. It is also observed that HIV positive women often get caught between pressures from health workers not to have children and pressures from family members to have children. Most of the young respondents reported doctors/nurses were not willing to perform delivery on them. Many a time when they revealed their status the doctors/nurses hesitated to handle them. Some respondents responded that at the time of their delivery government hospital's staffs (doctors/nurses) immediately sent them to private hospitals saying that requisite facilities are not available with them. We hope the present report can improve care and support services to women living with HIV/AIDS. It can help to prevent HIV infection, improve access to HIV treatment, care and support, and lessen the impact of HIV/AIDS, particularly among the most vulnerable and marginalized section.