Aids prevention, Stigma and migrant status

Abstract

Abstract This article discusses how stigma has been applied to disease and also to foreigners, especially during epidemics. Foreigners, or migrants, fit particularly well into AIDS stigma, being both objects and originators of the generalised reaction: ‘it's somebody else's problem’. Material is presented from a European Community Concerted Action assessing AIDS/HIV prevention which surveyed programmes for short‐ and long‐term guest populations and ethnic minorities in twelve European countries. It is shown how the potential for stigmatisation seriously hindered the establishment of AIDS prevention efforts directed towards migrants. Basic shifts of programme focus which help overcome stigmatisation problems concerning migrants are defined, including: 1) making fine differentiations amongst migrant groups rather than considering ‘migrants’ as a generalised ‘other’, 2) basing programmes on a universal right to know rather than on the notion of risk group, and 3) working in real and effective collaboration with minority communities rather than imposing top down programmes.