Henrike Körner1. 1. National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. h.korner@unsw.edu.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the interrelationships between migration and resettlement, the Australian immigration system and living with HIV. METHOD: Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with clients of the Multicultural HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C Service and a sexual health clinic in the Sydney metropolitan area over an 18-month period in 2003-2004. RESULTS: Three major themes interwoven with migration were identified: HIV diagnosis, access to care and support, and forming social relations. Participants who applied for permanent residency in Australia rather than off-shore were usually diagnosed as HIV-positive as part of the health requirement for permanent residency. This jeopardized their prospect of staying in Australia and was at the same time a barrier to returning to the country of birth. It was also a barrier to accessing health care and support services and a major source of uncertainty. The meaning of an HIV-positive diagnosis was grounded in participants' knowledge about HIV from their country of birth: HIV infection was perceived as a terminal illness. Because of the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, many had little or no contact with their ethnic communities in Australia. At the same time, they found it difficult to form new social relations in the Anglo-Celtic mainstream culture. A further problem was feeling torn between Australia and the promise of a better future, and the close emotional relationships with family and friends in the country of birth. CONCLUSION: New migrants with HIV need to negotiate two major life disruptions and two major uncertainties simultaneously: migration and HIV infection. In the Anglo-Celtic mainstream, language, cultural and financial barriers to health and support services should be removed or minimized. In ethnic communities, HIV-related stigma needs to be addressed to enable new migrants to form social relations in these communities and to rebuild their lives.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the interrelationships between migration and resettlement, the Australian immigration system and living with HIV. METHOD: Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with clients of the Multicultural HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C Service and a sexual health clinic in the Sydney metropolitan area over an 18-month period in 2003-2004. RESULTS: Three major themes interwoven with migration were identified: HIV diagnosis, access to care and support, and forming social relations. Participants who applied for permanent residency in Australia rather than off-shore were usually diagnosed as HIV-positive as part of the health requirement for permanent residency. This jeopardized their prospect of staying in Australia and was at the same time a barrier to returning to the country of birth. It was also a barrier to accessing health care and support services and a major source of uncertainty. The meaning of an HIV-positive diagnosis was grounded in participants' knowledge about HIV from their country of birth: HIV infection was perceived as a terminal illness. Because of the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, many had little or no contact with their ethnic communities in Australia. At the same time, they found it difficult to form new social relations in the Anglo-Celtic mainstream culture. A further problem was feeling torn between Australia and the promise of a better future, and the close emotional relationships with family and friends in the country of birth. CONCLUSION: New migrants with HIV need to negotiate two major life disruptions and two major uncertainties simultaneously: migration and HIV infection. In the Anglo-Celtic mainstream, language, cultural and financial barriers to health and support services should be removed or minimized. In ethnic communities, HIV-related stigma needs to be addressed to enable new migrants to form social relations in these communities and to rebuild their lives.
Authors: Kathy Petoumenos; Jo Watson; Bill Whittaker; Jennifer Hoy; Don Smith; Lisa Bastian; Robert Finlayson; Andrew Sloane; Stephen T Wright; Hamish McManus; Matthew G Law Journal: J Int AIDS Soc Date: 2015-02-12 Impact factor: 5.396
Authors: Sajana Ghimire; Jonathan Hallett; Corie Gray; Roanna Lobo; Gemma Crawford Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-04-10 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Donna Angelina Rade; Gemma Crawford; Roanna Lobo; Corie Gray; Graham Brown Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-06-22 Impact factor: 3.390