ARHIVELE OLTENIEI - Universitatea din Craiova

The “HIV/AIDS” Phenomenon level of knowledge perceptions and atitudes 255this subject there was a single worrying situation thru the possible consequencesof such a reality; meaning, in an extremly poor isolated parochy, the seropositiveis accepted and treated by the community as any other type of sickperson because the capacity of perceving the danger doesn’t exist. The habitantsdon’t have any kind of knowledge about the way of manifestation and evolutionof this disease and about it’s danger 42 .The priests have often approached the problem of their own effort toconquer the fear related to a possible infection in certain cases in which theyhave contacted the sero-positives 43 . For example a situation has been presentedby a priest when one evening a little girl came with a maternal assistant. Theorganizer had spoken honestly about the anxiety and the doubts of bringing intothe community a sero-positive, of the „fight” with one’s own conscience forgetting over intolerance, of searching for adequate information sources toovercome the situation, meaning to eliminate any possibility of the virusspreading, etc.One of the priests who had first-hand experience with sero-positivesinstitutionalized in an orphanage 44 , talked about the feeling of anxietyexperienced by those with HIV. How the anxiety is based mostly on the factthat perhaps out of shame and fear of discrimination or because they are simplyscared of the terrifying consequences of their sickness. They don’t always thinkabout the possible contamination of their peers and they are not willing to42 “I buried a child sick of AIDS and the parents did fulfill all the funeral customs. Theneighbors were not afraid to come when they were called. At the countyside the AIDS is treated asany other disease, nobody is afraid of contamination. Maybe the people of the villages run awayfaster from hepatitis or TBC rather than from HIV. In any case, they are much more afraid ofpoverty.” (priest Constanţa)43“I have been in this situation (the first time I came in contact with a sero-positive) andmy own reaction scared me. How could I be so intolerant? I had organized a trip with young peopleand I found out that a 10 year old girl was sero-positive and she had a maternal assistant comingalong with her, an 18 year old. My first reaction was „Lord, what have I done!” It took me a couple ofseconds. My mind started to work fast and I said to myself: “Wait a little. If the person who camealong eats at the same table and doesn’t get sick ..». At that time, I didn`t have any information onHIV. I talked with the nurse who was also a young girl coming to the camp. I brought her a plate anda fork just in case of need. Then she said, “be careful that she doesn’t get hit during the trips and Iwill take care of her. For the rest of it, I don`t think there is a problem.” And in an hour or so I gotcalm. But first, I was somehow nervous and anxious and I tried to bring to my memory everything Iknew on AIDS. How is it gotten, what`s happening, etc...? (priest Alba Iulia)44“I can’t say that it is fear but still I hold back considering their way of behavior (ofthe sero-positives). I heard once a discussion about dental assistance, for example: “What do youdo when you go to the dentrist? The dentist should know.” Furthermore, the dialogue between theparticipants at the focus groups about this situation went like this: “he should know how to preparehis instrument. But what should he say to him? I didn’t understand” and furthermore I think that heshould tell him anyway. The psychologist and the social worker train him for such an attitude.But the one involved has replied that he wouldn`t offer such information.” “But why wouldn’t hesay it!” „Because of shame” „Because of shame? I don’t think is necesarily because of shame “„He feels discriminated against.” „You know what the problem is? I think that man is egotistical”„No he is not egotistical he is scared” „Yes maybe.” (focus Timiş)