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it is the relatively low level of actual reported cases
that has led to an air of complacency in the region.
Within
the Pacific, a commonly held belief is that the relative
isolation of our island nations will contain or protect
us from the disease reaching epidemic proportions.
With
the exception of PNG, the Pacific has not yet experienced
the explosion of reported cases of HIV/AIDS that other less
developed and developing nations in the world have experienced.
Nevertheless,
the underlying social, cultural, economic and demographic
conditions exist for a similar rapid spread of the disease.
These
conditions include a youthful population with a high incidence
of youth pregnancies and STI's, movements in, through and
out of the region by mobile population groups, slow or negative
economic growth and the consequential lack of employment
opportunity, and socio-cultural practices that pattern the
behaviour of men and dictate the status of women.
PIAF
sees some common barriers that constrain a more effective
response:
Failure
to acknowledge the serious nature of the problem by governments
and communities because of them being deceived by the
relatively small numbers of PLWHA.
The
invisibility of HIV and STD transmitting behaviours. Although
premarital and extramarital sexual relations are very
common in Pacific Island societies, many prefer to deny
that their behaviour puts them at risk of contracting
HIV or STD.
More
fundamentally problematic is that community and national
leaders, especially in the church, prefer to deny that
such behaviour goes on.
A
resulting general lack of societal and personal openness
to discuss sexual matters.
Discrimination
and fear against those infected with HIV. Early campaigns
aimed at instilling fear in the public, plus the association
of AIDS with immoral acts have resulted in unreasonable
stigma against HIV positive persons. Because of the fear
of AIDS and commonly held misconceptions about how the
disease is transmitted, people with HIV often hide their
infections to avoid being discriminated against.
Ignorance
about the growing risk of contracting HIV and STD locally.
HIV/AIDS is perceived as something coming from outside
the region, rather that a disease transmitted between
individuals engaging in risky sexual behaviours. The spread
of HIV between Pacific Islanders who have had no foreign
contact now accounts for a large proportion of cases where
HIV is most prevalent.
Too
much focus being placed on HIV as being purely a health
issue. Other than the ministries of Health who have taken
the lead in HIV/AIDS programmes, other sectors such as
business have had little involvement. This demonstrates
a low awareness of the development repercussions of HIV.
Limited
resources of governments and administrations means that
HIV/AIDS programmes must compete against other health,
education, development and social welfare programmes.
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