Sweden : People with HIV suffer when knowledge is not used
People living with HIV are treated differently in health care shows a mapping of HIV-Sverige, RFSL and RFSU.
An efficient HIV treatment reduces the risk for HIV to be transmitted from one person to another through sex with a condom is minimal. That shows the latest research. According to the Infectious Diseases Act (smittskyddslagen), a doctor can give how to conduct to the people living with HIV in order to reduce the spread. One of the most common of Conduct is the duty of information, which means that you have to tell a new sex partner that you are living with HIV.
The new research means that the information requirements are superfluous for those who have a well-functioning HIV treatment. Many patients on stable and well treatment should receive the information required was claimed by his doctor and it would mean a considerable reduction of the stigma that many experience today. Today, 95% of all people living with HIV in Sweden a well-functioning HIV treatment.
During this winter, HIV-Sverige, RFSL and RFSU conducted a survey how infectious diseases in different parts of Sweden works with the conduct and the outcome shows that there are major differences in health care. There is a great lack of guidelines on how patients’ duty of information to be managed and therefore looks very different in the country. If the information duty is lifted or not seems to depend on doctors’ setting instead of based on the research and the recommendations are.
Last Wednesday, the Public Health Agency ( Folkhälsomyndigheten) commissioned by the government to follow up the implementation of the Public Health Agency’s knowledge base “Infectivity in treated HIV infection,” which was released in autumn of 2013. The data is based on the latest research and where it is stated that a well-functioning HIV treatment reduces the risk of HIV transmission.
The new knowledge base needed to change the perception of HIV, says Farhad Mazi Esfahani on HIV Sverige. The biggest problem for people living with HIV today are other prejudices and fears about HIV, so it is important for us that the new knowledge is implemented and reaches everyone.
The knowledge base “Infectivity in treated HIV infection” is not only intended for health care but also for justice. Today judge courts very different in legal cases involving HIV by creating legal uncertainty for people living with HIV. We are therefore pleased that this follow-up also includes the judiciary.
HIV Sweden, RFSL and RFSU wants to see a review of the Infectious Diseases Act (Smittskyddslagen), but this government commission is a good start to identify the problems that exist.