Scary NY HIV Video

posted: 20/12/2010

New York City's Department of Health is defending a controversial ad that uses rotting brains, decaying bones and bleeding anuses to convince young gay and bi men to use condoms.
 

"I am completely comfortable with what we put out here. I have talked with many young men who are HIV positive," said Dr. Monica Sweeney, assistant commissioner for the city's Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control. "This is not fabricated. These are real conditions that affect people even though their viral load might be under control."
 

'Offensive and dishonest', or 'Prevention shock value'

The ad has split people – many are offended by its scare tactics and call the campaign dishonest – but others think the video's shock value could prevent the spread of HIV.
 

"I reject portraying my life -- 15 years and counting with HIV -- as a hellish nightmare," said Jim Pickett, advocacy director at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. "Has it been tough? Yes ... living with HIV is challenging, but it is not one big long scream of agony for most of us. But nuance isn't eye catching or sexy, is it?"
 

The controversial NY City Department of Health video ‘It’s Never Just HIV’

Scaring people about HIV does NOT work
There is no evidence that scaring people works for HIV – and much evidence to show it does far more harm than good – the recent UK review of all the evidence, the Role of Fear in HIV Prevention, shows the use of fear fails.
 

Does using fear of HIV work?
Would using more fear in HIV prevention work? ‘The role of fear in HIV prevention’ is written as a guide for gay men’s HIV prevention workers, but many other people, including people with HIV, are very interested in this and have strong views about it. It is an interesting and informative read, on four illustrated pages.
 

It looks at the scientific evidence for whether fear works or not, considers the ideas behind it, and looks into the unforeseen consequences and risks of using fear in HIV campaigns.
 

Fear is for the Fearless
The evidence shows that fear only works with people who are not already frightened by HIV. But 98% of gay men say (in Gay Men’s Sex Survey, 2008) they agree or agree strongly that “HIV is still a very serious medical condition.” So almost every single gay and bi man is already fearful of HIV. Perversely, adding to that fear can make things worse for the men at more risk of HIV.
 

As Adam Bourne says:

“It will remain a constant challenge for those promoting sexual health and well-being to attract the attention of their target audience among the many other advertisements that compete for their attention.
“The temptation is to produce shocking or explicit imagery, which may stand a better chance of being noticed or being remembered.
“However, it is doubtful whether it will actually be successful at influencing behavioural choices.
“Most gay men and other men who have sex with men are already motivated to avoid HIV, but some still lack the knowledge or the power to do so.”
________________________________________
“Inducing fear is not an effective way to promote previous HIV relevant learning or condom use either immediately following the intervention, or later on.
However, HIV counselling and testing can provide an outlet for previous HIV-related anxiety and, subsequently, gains in both knowledge and behaviour change immediately and longitudinally.”  Earl & Albarracin, 2007

The role of fear in HIV prevention, Adam Bourne, 2010, Sigma Research Briefing no.1 for the CHAPS gay and bi men’s HIV prevention partnership

Source

More information and comment from The Body (leading USA HIV website)

The NY City Department of Health video ‘It’s Never Just HIV’

New Treatments Pipeline

posted: 10/09/2010

If you want to know about all the future treatments, tests, and prevention for HIV, hepatitis, and TB, the Treatment Action Group (TAG) have produced a new guide. It deals with

• future HIV antiretroviral treatments
• future ways of diagnosing HIV
• future HIV antiretroviral treatments for babies, children and young people
• future immune-based therapies and preventive technologies - like vaccines and pre-exposure prophylaxis (which means treatment to prevent HIV infection)
• future hepatitis B treatments
• future hepatitis C treatments
• future diagnosis, treatments and vaccines for tuberculosis (TB)

It's not an easy booklet to read, but there are 150 pages of information about new HIV treatments in the development 'pipeline.' That is a lot of new developments that should continue to steadily improve the quality and length of life people with HIV can expect.

TAG 2010 Pipeline Report from i-BASE

Treatment Action Group (TAG)

21st Century Press Guidelines

posted: 13/08/2010

The media reporting of HIV is often wrong and negative. New detailed Guidelines for Reporting HIV are out today to help editors and journalists write well about HIV in the UK.

The guidelines dispel common myths about HIV, provide up-to-date information and tell journalists where to go for more information.

The new guidelines, from NAT (National AIDS Trust), are backed by the National Union of Journalists, the Press Complaints Commission, and the Society of Editors.
 

Accurate, up to date, respectful

HIV has changed a lot in recent years. Testing and treatment, quality of life and life expectancy are radically better. The guidelines help journalists report about HIV in the 21st century. For example, it is no longer correct to suggest that HIV is a death sentence, that HIV automatically leads to AIDS, or that you must wait three or six months for a test, all of which have been said in recent news reports.
 

Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT, says “The public get a lot of their knowledge about HIV from the press, so it is important journalists get it right. Accurate reporting benefits public health, dispels myths, undermines prejudice and increases understanding. We hope these guidelines will help journalists update their knowledge about HIV in the 21st century.”
 

News Mistakes

NAT monitors the press for inaccurate coverage about HIV. Some of the most common mistakes journalists make include suggesting there is a risk of HIV infection from discarded needles, biting, or spitting, reports often treat HIV and AIDS as if they are the same thing, and suggest HIV is deadly.
 

Graham Dudman, Managing Editor at The Sun, ensures his staff use the guidelines. He says:
“At The Sun we pride ourselves on getting the facts right and staying up to date. This can be a challenge in sensitive areas like HIV. NAT's guidelines for journalists are very useful, really simple to work with and lay out all the facts reporters need.”

George House Trust hopes The Sun reports HIV responsibly in future – in June its front page was a scare-mongering report suggesting British troops could get HIV from old needles or razor blades in Afghanistan. It published this on the front page, despite including a comment from NAT denying the claim that troops could be infected in this way. There was no HIV risk to troops but The Sun still printed the story, and on the front page. This was then repeated elsewhere, including on BBC radio.

Stephen Abell, Director of the Press Complaints Commission said "While public and media understanding of HIV and AIDS has improved, it remains vital that the press takes particular care when reporting on these issues - both by being accurate and by respecting the privacy of those who live with either condition. The PCC has a clear role to play in resolving complaints, upholding and improving standards, and providing a public service to those who have concerns about the press."

Download the Guidelines for Reporting HIV 
 

Sustaining African Community Leadership

posted: 14/01/2010

Sustaining Community Leadership is the theme of the latest issue of the African HIV Policy Network’s Newsletter. It has pieces on

• surviving the economic downturn
• the importance of Africans and others making their voice heard by voting in the general and local elections (which will almost certainly be on May 6th)
• HIV positive people being leaders and making a community impact
• Africans disappearing from HIV clinics (by Chris Morley, George House Trust’s policy expert)
• Resources and working to improve Faith responses to HIV, (they have more information on their website)
• HIV and the workplace – meeting the needs of staff with HIV
• Their media toolkit for working with journalists – details and download it from their website
• Young people using the web and mobile phones for HIV messages
• Fighting HIV stigma
• Using SHoutloud to have your say about your local HIV and sexual health services.

This Sustaining Community Leadership issue

 Past issues of AHPN's newsletters

New York, New York Memorial

posted: 10/07/2009

A memorial party for drag queen par excellence Petra at New York, New York raised £225.35 on Sunday 28th June. The generous staff made this a memorable evening for everyone there and volunteer Lee Botham was manning the collecting buckets on the night. We say a big thank you to New York, New York customers and staff and all of Petra’s friends, family and colleagues.

Sue Fletcher, community fundraising coordinator says:
‘Thanks so much to New York, New York for inviting us down to collect on the night. The staff and customers at New York, New York know how to throw a party in style and we’re delighted to receive this generous donation to support our work.’