Both the Moral Majority, who are recycling medieval language to explain AIDS, and those ultra-leftists who attribute AIDS to some sort of conspiracy, have a clearly political analysis of the epidemic. But even if one attributes its cause to a microorganism rather than the wrath of God, or the workings of the CIA, it is clear that the way in which AIDS has been perceived, conceptualized, imagined, researched and financed makes this the most political of diseases. 

Dennis Altman, 
Australian sociologist

HIV-RELATED LANGUAGE POLICY

Use of language should be inclusive and not create and reinforce a Them/Us mentality or approach.

For example, a term like "intervention" places the speaker outside of the group of people for/with whom one is working.

It is better if the vocabulary used is drawn from the vocabulary of peace and human development and not from the vocabulary of war.

For example, synonyms should be found for words like "campaign", "control", "surveillance", etc. Descriptive terms used should be those preferred or chosen by persons described.

For example, "sex workers" is often the term preferred by those concerned rather than "prostitutes", "people living with HIV" or "people living with AIDS" are preferred by many infected persons rather than "victims".

All language should be gender sensitive. In the same way, the terms used should be those preferred by the disempowered.

Terms used need to be strictly accurate.

For example, "AIDS" should only be used to describe the diagnosed condition. Otherwise, the terms used include "the FIIV infection", "HIV epidemic", "HIV-related illnesses or conditions", etc.

The terms used need to be adequate to inform accurately.

For example, the modes of HIV transmission and the options for protective behavior change must be explicitly stated.

The choice and use of words carries with it messages in addition to the literal meaning of the words themselves. Discussion of HIV and related issues is often fraught with tension because of the taboos and prejudices which lie beneath the surface of cultures. Careful use of language helps to avoid reinforcing prejudice and to clarify essential issues of human rights and dignity which are so often early casualties of the epidemic.

It is the HIV language policy to use:

• "Person with HIV", not "person with AIDS" unless it is used to describe the medical conditions which conform to the current case definition of clinical disease. A person either has a diagnosis of AIDS or they haven't. Terms such as "full-blown AIDS" and "pre-AIDS condition" are inaccurate.

• "People Living with HIV infection", not "HIV-infected" or "HIV or virus carriers" because the emphasis should be on the people and not the virus or the infection.

• "People living with AIDS", not "AIDS victims" or "AIDS sufferers" because the emphasis should be on the people and not the medical condition. Furthermore, the terms "victim" and "sufferer" suggest powerlessness.

• "Living with AIDS", not "dying of AIDS" as it stresses the fact that a person continues to participate in life's activities.

• "Men who have sex with men", not "homosexual", "bisexual" or "gay" because many men who have sex with men do not identify themselves as homosexual, etc. It is also inappropriate to label people by virtue of their sexual orientation.

• "Women who have sex with women", not "lesbians" because many women who have sex with women do not identify themselves as lesbians. It is also inappropriate to label people by virtue of their sexual orientation.

• "Commercial sex worker", not "prostitute" as this is the term used by women who do this work. The nature of "prostitution" differs from country to country and from culture to culture. The term "sex worker" is inadequate because some sex workers operate for money and some "non-commercial sex workers" operate for security.

• "Person with hemophilia", not "hemophiliac" because a person should not be identified by his/her disease.

• "Us" not "them" as all of us are living within the epidemic.

• "Living in poverty", not "poverty stricken". "Poverty stricken" implies powerlessness and an inability to be anything else.

• "The population", not "the general population", "the heterosexual majority", "normal people", etc., because everyone is part of the population and no one should be excluded or isolated because of sexual orientation or behavior.

• "Risk behaviors", not "risk groups". In the context of the HIV epidemic it is the behavior that places one at risk of HIV infection rather than their affiliation with a group.

• "Children living in families affected by HIV", not "orphans", "AIDS orphans" or "children orphaned by AIDS". "Orphan" means different things in different countries (in African countries it often means a child who has lost one parent). "Orphan" also implies helplessness and can be demeaning. An association with AIDS may bring discrimination.

• "Working for life", not "fighting against AIDS" because the use of combative or military language does not encourage an attitude of caring.

• "Person", not "AIDS patient". "AIDS patient" describes the person by his/her medical condition and a patient is not a person but someone reliant on a doctor.

• "Babies with HIV infection", not "innocent babies", because this suggests that someone else is guilty or has got the infection deliberately.

This EEDI project "Health and Life: HIV/AIDS prevention through information" is funded by the European Commission, TACIS Bistro program. Opinions expressed in this document does not always coincide with and reflect that of the European Commission.