In 2010 together with the Hope against AIDS Foundation the Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) carried out a research among people living with HIV. The research looks into the reasons for stigma and discrimination, for the personal stigma among the people living with HIV, and into some aspects of sexual practices and attitudes.
The methodology used was that of the in-depth interview in which a person from the community of people living with HIV has a discussion with other people living with HIV. A series of guiding questions was drafted to help the interviewer which was coordinated with representatives of the community of people living with HIV in advance. That is why the results from the research reflect the position of the people living with HIV on the discussed issues.
42 interviews were carried out in the cities of Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv, as 23 of them were with men. The average age of the participants was 40 years – the youngest participant was 23 and the oldest – 58 years old. On average, the participants have known about their HIV status for 6 years and the most recently diagnosed participant (as of the date of the interviews) was diagnosed 3 months ago. The persons interviewed make up about 8% of the people living with HIV in Bulgaria.
Short presentation of the research - in BG
In accordance with some of the conclusions from this research an analysis was made of the health and social legislation in relation to people living with HIV. The analysis shows a few main problems in the realization and protection of the rights of the people living with HIV:
1. Lack of supporting environment for overcoming the social stigma.
2. Unacceptable and prevailing cases of caution of the part of the doctor.
3. Refusal to recognize rights on the part of the affected persons.
4. Refusal to administer justice in favour of the affected persons.
