Monday, December 1, 2008

"Myth" 5: Poverty and Discrimination Are the Problem

In the developing world, Shelton writes, HIV is more common in wealthier people than in poorer people. And some nations have reduced the spread of HIV without reducing poverty levels.

Dickinson strongly disagrees with the suggestion that poverty and discrimination don't matter.

"With poverty comes poor education, and with poor education people don't know how to avoid health threats," he says. "Poverty certainly is part of the HIV problem here in Miami. And discrimination drives people underground."

Dickinson says that one of the main HIV/AIDS myths in the U.S. is the myth that HIV infection no longer carries a dangerous stigma.

"HIV certainly still is a major stigma," he says. "It is a major concern for many people who have HIV -- such a concern that they will not divulge it. It is such a concern that they will not even risk finding out whether they are infected."

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