Are statutory protections sufficient to protect people living with HIV who are employed in the medical workplace?. (2nd January 2019) - Fisher, Meaghan
ABSTRACT: Objective: To determine whether existing policy frameworks provide sufficient protection from discrimination for people living with HIV working in healthcare environments. Methods: Two recent studies were conducted to determine the social effects of HIV on the Black African new settler community in New Zealand. The first was a quantitative survey ( n = 703), and the second a series of focus groups made up of Black African new migrants ( n = 131). This paper uses the data provided by focus group participants and members of Community Advisory Boards that identified themselves as both HIV positive and working within the healthcare industry. Results: Despite legal protections from workplace discrimination for people living with HIV, research indicates that experiences of stigma and discrimination within the medical workplace remain significant issues for healthcare workers living with HIV. Conclusions: Legislative measures to protect healthcare workers living with HIV from workplace discrimination are insufficient. Additional training and mentoring, as well as a renewed emphasis on the use of universal precautions, is necessary to ensure a safe and inclusive working environment.