1. Disability and HIV & AIDS: Overview of evidence Nora Groce, PhD Susan Girois, MD Strategic planning session The Africa Campaign on Disability and HIV & AIDS Cape Town, January 23-25, 2007

2. Overview Background What do we know? What do we need to know? Conclusions

3. Background There is small but growing attention to the AIDS and Disability issue The attention is so far disjointed because no forum exists that allows us to speak as a group to the AIDS community There is lack of coherence in the messages and the approach

4. « I have been approached by a disabled person here or there, but it never occurred to me that this is a large group of people. » --Stephen Lewis, former UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa

5. Background (cont.) Since 2003, increasing attention is being paid to disability links with AIDS Most from the disability group Response to the realization that people in this community are becoming infected and dying. Disability leaders, health providers, therapists, sign language interpreters

6. What do we know? Persons with disabilities have less knowledge –MALAWI: Effective HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Information to People with Disabilities (Munthali, Mvula, Ali, 2004) –NIGERIA: Differences in HIV/AIDS Knowledge between Deaf and Hearing Populations (Groce, Yousafzai, Van Der Maas 2006)

7. Less knowledge –RWANDA and UGANDA: Situational analysis of HIV/AIDS of young people with disabilities (Yousafzai A and Edouards K 2004) –SWAZILAND: Knowledge, personal risk and experiences of HIV/AIDS among people with disabilities // Survey of HIV/AIDS Knowledge among a Deaf population in Swaziland (Groce, Yousafzai, Dlamini, Wirz 2003) –ZIMBABWE: Knowledge Attitudes and Practices about HIV & AIDS among visually impaired adolescents and young adults (Shava K)

8. At risk of HIV infection –TANZANIA (2005): Reproductive Health Needs of Visually Impaired Adolescents and pre-teens (UAFD) and Family Care International (CCBRT/CBM) –UGANDA (2006)Baseline survey on promotion of a disability perspective into Uganda’s National HIV/AIDS response (NUDIPU)

9. Vulnerable to sexual violence –ETHIOPIA: Baseline Survey on Sexual Violence against Persons with Disability in Kebele 01/02 of Yeka Sub City (Handicap International 2006)

10. Greater impact on FWD –TANZANIA: The Impact of HIV/AIDS on African society – on people with disabilities- and consequently on ‘rehabilitation’ (Vanneste G CCBRT/CBM) –ZIMBABWE: Participatory rapid assessment of the vulnerability, impact and coping mechanisms of Parents of Disabled Children on HIV & AIDS (Nganzi, Matrick, Matonhodzi (ZPHCA))

11. Disability community ill-equipped –ZIMBABWE: Participatory rapid assessment of the vulnerability, impact and coping mechanisms of the disabled people on HIV & AIDS (Nganzi, Matrick, Matonhodzi(ZPHCA))

12. Service providers ill-equipped –SOUTH AFRICA: Survey on AIDS and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities. Beliefs and practices on AIDS among service providers for Adults with intellectual disabilities (Tamar Levin) –“Staff values regarding the sexual expression of women with developmental disabilities” (Christian, Stinson, Dotson (2002)) –“Sexuality education for students who are deaf: current practices and concerns” (Getch, Young, Denny 1998)

13. Higher HIV prevalence (???) –TANZANIA: HIV Counseling and Testing Opportunity for 320 Parents of Children with Disabilities as part of the activities within CCBRT-CBR Programme in Dar es Salaam

14. Manuals, toolkits, guidelines “Resource Manual for Disability and HIV/AIDS Training” (DPSA) Manual for getting AIDS information to adolescents with disability (Rehabilitation International) Community-based HIV international manual for DPI South Africa (DPI) Guidelines for including Disability in National AIDS Programs (Groce)

15. Upcoming … Groce/WHO/ILO What you need to know about HIV/AIDS: a guide for people with disabilities Disabled people’s Organizations and the AIDS Epidemic: What DPOs can do to lead the fight against HIV/AIDS for persons with disabilities HIV/AIDS and the Deaf Community HIV/AIDS and People who are Blind or Vision Impaired HIV/AIDS Information for people with Intellectual Disabilities and their friends and families

16. What do we need to know? Sub-groups of disabled persons Whether our trainings are effective Persons with disability who are HIV+ Programmatic issues Consistency in language, privacy, competency, educating health professionals

17. CONCLUSIONS Growing attention We have a basic situation analysis We now need to focus on effectiveness Lagging attention to PWD who are HIV+