Summary, Recommendations and Conclusion
5.3 SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION ON HIV/AIDS PROTECTION AND RISK FACTORS
The responses provided a general understanding of protection issues against HIV infection and STIs. Para-Iegals identified protection mechanisms from getting infected with lllV/AIDS and STIs. Para-Iegals also showed an understanding of the risk factors of practicing unsafe sex. Other areas of concern were condom usage initiation that had an impact the level trust between spouses and/or partners. The most important issue identified was the risk that might result in infection should one partner be unfaithful while pretending to be well behaved in front of the other spouse or partner.
The issues of gender and sexuality also came to the fore as it became evident that the spread of HIV/AIDS and STIs lies with the attitudes, perceptions and behaviour of spouses and/or sexual partners. Unless issues of gender inequality and sexuality are adequately addressed the spread of HIV/AIDS and STIs could never be prevented.
Para-Iegals had knowledge of protection issues, however, it was surprising to learn of the high risk of getting infected even though you may be conscious of risk factors. This is reflected on section 4.1.3 in chapter four of this document.
5.4 PARA-LEGALS CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS PREVENTION
Para-legals' responses in both focus groups and questionnaires identified four areas of focus that they can contribute towards lllV/AIDS prevention. The areas overlap with responses on para- legals contribution towards treatment, care and support of people living HIV/AIDS and/or their families. These areas of focus were:
• Providing Counseling to those infected and/or their families. This area would be recommended for further research as it involves a lot of work. Itis not clear yet whether para-legals could provide counseling themselves or they may refer clients to other support organizations for people living with lllV/AIDS and/or their families.
• Conducting awareness-raising workshops at local community level;
Local workshops would be aimed at raising awareness about lllVIAIDS and the problems that the disease entails socially, economically and politically;
• Organizing campaigns;
Campaigns would focus on specific issues that would be prioritized from time to time;
and
• In addition, both practicing and student para-Iegals raised the importance of working in coalitions/networks to expand knowledge in dealing with lllVIAIDS.
5.5 PARA-LEGALS' CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS CARE AND SUPPORT FOR
THOSE AFFECTED BY HIVlAmS AND/OR THEIR FAMILIES.
Para-Iegals participating in focus groups came up with the following areas where they can contribute:
• Para-Iegals identified counseling and home visits as two areas they can contribute towards care and support.
Psychosocial care is one major component of dealing with the scourge of lllV/AIDS.
This area would need further research given the fact that home-based care workers are trained to perform this role. Other studies have revealed that psychosocial counseling works better if conducted by a peer who is also HIV positive. Inviting people living with HIV/AIDS especially activists to attend local workshops and encourage peers to live positively. It is also an important area for para-Iegals to have incorporated into their
training as peer support for prevention and care will have to be provided for people living with lllV/AIDS when they visit their offices for assistance.
Psychosocial counseling creates an opportunity for people living with lllVIAIDS to receive mutual support from a peer. Para-legals are better positioned to identify support groups of other people living with lllVIAIDS who can visit the office to counsel those affected and infected about positive living life-styles. This is base on the fact that para- legals are ethically bound by the code of their practice to keep confidential information.
Confidentiality result a sense of trust to clients when they visit a paralegal office. Inviting activist will create an opportunity of mutual support from para-Iegals as they will be able to work with support groups of people living with lllVIAIDS
• Para-Iegals identified their role towards advocating for social grants for those affected by lllV/AIDS and/or their families.
• Para-legals also identified a number of areas that they could cover in terms of advocacy work aimed at eliminating discrimination against people living with lllVIAIDS and/or their families. They listed the following:
• Conducting community workshops as means of awareness raising and conscientisation about stigma and discrimination.
• Casework whereby para-Iegals can address matters (i.e. discriminatory practices) brought to their offices and/or resource centres by those affected by lllV/AIDS and/or their families. For example, disability grant for those who are too sick to support themselves due to lllV/AIDS; Child Support Grant for those minor children whose parent(s) or guardian(s) has no source of income; Care Dependency Grant of children under the age of 18 who cane support themselves due to illness or disability; and Foster Care Grants for those children who have been place under foster care by an Order of Court.
• lllVIAIDS monitoring. Para-Iegals felt that they could keep statistical reports on stigma and discrimination-related matters brought to the attention of the paralegal office and/or resource center. The information would be helpful in measuring the impact of managing lllV/AIDS in a local community.
• Campaigns to raise awareness of employees about their right to refuse forced HIV test by employers.
Inaddition to the common points raised by all para-Iegals, those already in practice came up with the following points:
• Working hand in hand with the community, by organizing and conducting workshops.
• Working towards establishment of coalitions or networks within a local community to deal with issues of care and support.
• Para-Iegals could serve as resources brokers at a local community level.