Vidojkovic N, Boras K, Lukic L, Lazic G; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. MoPeD2781.

N. Vidojkovic, Youth of Yugoslav Association against AIDS, Gandijeva 73, 11070 Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Tel.: +381 11 177 5122, Fax: +381 11 322 5645, E-mail: ojazas@bits.net

Issue: In the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - FRY there are currently 27 children living with HIV/AIDS. We realize that the social standing of these children is very poor. The relation of the social environment towards appearance of HIV/AIDS in their setting in FRY since the first case of HIV in 1985 until today was exceptionally negative. The most common reaction in the social environment upon the realization that a child is HIV positive was total excommunication, especially by the parents of their peers. Above all, a most of them were completely disregarded by their own family members due to the consequences they themselves might face. Description: The authors of this paper are describing the circumstances related to the HIV positive boy Marko*, entering the first grade. The paper is primarily focused on the self-organization of the parents, his peers, and the analysis of the relation dynamics within this group. Also, this work gives the cross-section of the governmental response upon the appearance of this case in September 1997. This paper analysis the aftermath of a two and a half year period within which this boy attended classes separately from the peers. He was enrolled in the "Nikola Tesla" Elementary School* in the City of Belgrade in FRY. Conclusion: Besides the efforts of the school faculty as well as the representatives of the Ministry of Education and health institutions, it was not possible to prevent the exclusion of the HIV student forced by the parents of his peers. Even with good basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS among the parents, irrational fear prevailed. This case implies that beside the fact that the general public is well informed of HIV/AIDS and of the willingness of the public and government institutions to help individual cases, unsatisfied awareness of this problem is the important determinant of the behavior of social groups.* Names of the boy and school are changed

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Child
• Counseling
• Educational Status
• Faculty
• Family
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Male
• Parents
• Schools
• Students
• Yugoslavia
• education

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0001040

UI: 102238531

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