preview

Social Support For Health And Social Care Essay

Decent Essays

In this chapter I aim to explore support from the community and healthcare providers. According to Logie and Gadalla, (2009) social support is critical in mitigating the negative effects of stigma and discrimination. Black Africans experience more stigma and more vulnerable due to their limited access to coping resources caused by poverty, immigration status and unfamiliarity with a foreign culture (Kelaher, Williams and Manderson, 2001).

Support from the Community
In the UK, xenophobia and racism have been identified as reasons for discrimination directed towards Africans immigrants living with HIV (Dodds, 2006). It was observed that fear of stigmatisation amongst Black Africans leads to non-disclosure of their HIV status. Non-disclosure …show more content…

This is largely attributed to intolerance to homosexuality in the African community (Dodds, 2006).It is viewed as sexually unconventional and unacceptable. Homosexuality is seen to constitute a choice; a choice to partake in behaviour that is evil (Deacon, Stephney. and Prosalendis, 2005). This leads to harbouring of an unforgiving and negative attitude by the society towards gay men. They are viewed as not deserving sympathy and specifically health care. This stigma is likely to discourage HIV positive Africans who are gay or lesbian from confiding in family and friends about their HIV status, hence alienating them and leading to failure to access treatment.

In addition, if PLHIV fail to disclose their statuses to their sexual partners, friends, children, family and the community, it leads them to fail seeking social and emotional support from those close to them (Flowers, Duncan and Knussen, 2003). The energy needed by PLHIV to hide their status is stressful and energy sapping (Smart and Wegner, 1999). It also limits the opportunities to discuss issues related to the disease with others (Glacken, Kernohan and Coates,

Get Access