Civic Consultation: AIDS Does Not Discriminate

Three communicative strategies were used for citizens to express their opinions and proposals:

Mochilánforas: A promoting team walked around Santa Rosa's hall using portable "ánforas" (audio recorders within backpacks) to collect citizens' answers to questions such as:

• If at this time you were informed that you had HIV, what is the first thing that would do?
• How do you think your relatives, friends and neighbours would treat you, if had HIV or AIDS?
• What should do the government with/for people who have HIV or AIDS?
• What would you be able to do you for people who have HIV or AIDS?
• What would cause you to suspect that a person has HIV or AIDS?

Grafichanga: This consisted of a large blank mural with a single question on it, where the people were able to draw and write situations that they imagine based on that question. It intended to provide a space for free expression of citizens to answer the question: If had HIV or AIDS, how would you like for other people to treat you?

Rajecabina: This was a large, welcoming cabin, into which people entered to privately say what thought without anybody else able to hear or see them do so. On the curtain that served as a door was written the question: How do you feel if a person has HIV or AIDS? A microphone was installed within the cabin to record people's responses.

HIV/AIDS, Stigma and Discrimination.

Civic Consultation is a strategy in which an open space is provided for citizens to freely and spontaneously express their perceptions and feelings about diverse themes of public interest. This particular strategy, designed and applied by the Asociación de Comunicadores Sociales Calandria, offers extensive freedom so that participants can express what they really want to say (instead of just selecting predefined answer options on questionnaires) and so that they are able to express it in the best way possible for them, personally (orally, in writing, as a drawing, etc.).

More than two thousand men, women, adults and youth participated in this consultation, expressing their perceptions and feelings: the mochilánforas solicited 1,457 opinions and proposals; 336 opinions were registered on the grafichanga mural; and 276 opinions were recorded within the rajecabina.

Some of the results obtained during the consultation include:

Mochilánforas: What would cause suspect you that a person has HIV or AIDS? And Why?

• Physical aspect: paleness, bags under the eyes, slimming, spots: 35.6%
• Promiscuous life, libertine: 22.3%
• State of spirit, depression: 12.9%
• Nothing, there's no way to know: 9.4%
• If someone is uncomfortable when speaking about AIDS: 7.4%
• If the person is a homosexual, because they are prone to the illness: 5.9%
• Other things: 3.5%
• No response: 3.0%

Grafichanga: If you had HIV or AIDS, how would you like other people to treat you?

• With respect, affection, comprehension: 31.5%
• As always, equal, like a normal person: 29.5%
• Without discrimination, without marginalisation: 17.0%
• With support: 6.5%
• Other things: 6.3%
• No response: 9.2%

Rajecabina: How do you feel if a person has HIV or AIDS?

• Pity, empathy: 21.7%
• Affection, love, comprehension: 14.8%
• Fear of contagion: 3.0%
• Nothing: 2.0%
• Other things: 7.4%
• No response: 2.3%