Chapter 1: HIV/AIDS: Protecting Your Clients and Yourself for Barbers, 2nd edition 2 CE Hours
Release Date : March 15, 2023
Expiration Date : May 31, 2025
Learning objectives After completing this course, the learner will be able to: Define and compare HIV and AIDS. Describe how HIV is transmitted. Recognize popular misconceptions and stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. Identify standard precautions that can be taken to prevent spreading HIV/AIDS within your workplace.
Recall rules and regulations regarding HIV/AIDS status disclosure relevant to professionals and their clients. Paraphrase protections afforded to HIV-positive barbers under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
INTRODUCTION
According to the National Institutes of Health, “HIV stigma and discrimination can pose complex barriers to prevention, testing, treatment, and support for people living with or at risk for HIV. ” Stigmatization makes many HIV positive persons unwilling to inform others of their status. This unwillingness can prevent them from seeking treatment, sustaining treatment programs, seeking support structures, and even informing sexual partners. HIV-positive individuals often remain silent out of fear of social isolation: judgment from their families, friends and other peers, as well as religious groups, coworkers, and even service providers. The effects of stigmatization prevent them from becoming better informed, seeking out information, and sharing important information with others – making it increasingly difficult to promote understanding and reduce discrimination. Learning about HIV/AIDS and recognizing commonly believed myths and misconceptions about the disease is important to professionals and the salon industry, as business is built upon customer relationships and the provision of quality and fair services to all customers. Acknowledging the stigma and arming themselves with facts about the HIV virus can assist professionals in working with all clients in the salon setting and recognizing and implementing safety and precautionary measures to keep themselves and their clients protected. This course outlines the need-to-know information surrounding HIV/AIDS to keep professionals and clients informed and protected in terms of identification, contraction, prevention, disclosure, and legal ramifications.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are commonly recognized terms. However, while many have heard of these terms, the stigmatization of HIV-positive individuals paired with commonly believed myths and misconceptions surrounding the HIV/AIDS epidemic can influence behaviors when working with HIV positive persons . Barbers must be comfortable working around all types of people, and misinformation can interfere with their ability to provide quality, non- discriminatory services to all clients. Receiving an HIV-positive diagnosis can be devastating and hard to accept for anyone. Those who are best able to cope with the realities of the disease are those who are able to establish a strong support system within their families, friends, communities, and service providers. For anyone diagnosed with HIV, compassion, sensitivity, and fair treatment are greatly needed. Yet too often the stigma associated with the disease can stand in the way of ensuring that an HIV-positive person is treated fairly and with respect. Stigma and misunderstanding can also create situations in which unnecessary steps are taken and exorbitant costs are incurred when working with HIV- positive clients. Unnecessary precautions have an impact not only on the client’s comfort, but also on the bottom line for the salon.
MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS
First recognizing AIDS as a new disease in 1981, and HIV as its cause in 1984, science has made great strides in research and trends that have changed the way we look at and work with HIV/AIDS. Although our knowledge of the disease has increased, approximately 1.2 million people were still living with HIV at the end of 2019 . In 2020, an estimated 30,635 new infections occurred in the United States. This number represents a decline after a period of relative stability. It is estimated that about 13% of those living with the disease remain
undiagnosed to date. While the numbers may be startling, they underscore the importance of obtaining and communicating factual information and prevention tips to slow the spread and progression of HIV/AIDS. Having accurate information is the key to understanding and preventing HIV transmission and working safely and respectfully with HIV-positive clients. The following are commonly believed myths and misconceptions paired with the true facts about HIV/AIDS.
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Book Code: BBFL0224
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