AKM Ahsan Ullah
University Brunei Darussalam, Brunei
Title: Asian Refugees and immigrants with HIV/AIDS in North America
Biography
Biography: AKM Ahsan Ullah
Abstract
Background Of the total number of refugees and immigrants accepted into the countries in North America every year, around half originate from Asia. The numbers who are HIV+ entering North America from South Asia may be substantial. This paper attempts to assess the perceptions of South Asians in North America especially in Canada towards HIV/AIDS, and how they are stigmatized within community. Methods Selected on snowball basis, 33 HIV/AIDS sufferers who are refugees or immigrants in North America from South Asia were interviewed face to face using a well designed open and closed ended questionnaire. A well defined yardstick of stigma and human rights was used to measure the level of AIDS-related stigma and human rights violation they encounter in developed countries. Results This research identified the ways in which immigrants and refugees who are HIV/AIDS sufferer from South Asia are vulnerable to discrimination, stigmatization and human rights violation. Majority of the respondents lost their job due to their serostatus; most of them reported being stigmatized. Stigmatization and human rights violation imperil their own and loss their self esteem. Many of them as a result think that suffering from cancer is better than being infected with HIV. Conclusions This paper offers to generate new knowledge; and policy recommendations about South Asian refugees who are HIV+ in North America. This research has crucial policy implications in North America and in South Asia.