Slapdash: Slashes and dashes mar HIV journalism

Kim Johnson

23 June 2011

Today the Sowetan and The New Age have inexplicably adopted new and ultimately incorrect HIV and AIDS terminology.

The two papers have begun representing HIV and AIDS as ‘HIV-Aids’. This HIV and AIDS hybrid is incorrect for all the same reasons as the HIV/AIDS combination. The HIV slash AIDS grouping has also long ceased to be accepted journalistic practice but is still used extensively in HIV-related media coverage.

UNAIDS have recently released revised HIV and AIDS-related Terminology Guidelines. The WHO guidelines do not even feature the odd HIV-AIDS amalgamation used in the articles in the Sowetan and The New Age.

The Guidelines stipulate that the HIV/AIDS coupling should not be used because HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) do not always occur together. In other words a person can be HIV-positive for decades and not have AIDS. However an individual cannot have AIDS without carrying the HI-virus.

HIV is the virus and AIDS is the clinical syndrome. The writer should use their own discretion in order to determine whether to attach HIV or AIDS to the word in question, in order to avoid confusing the two conditions.

While this argument may seem pedantic, there are valid reasons why media practitioners should use the right term in the right context. For example;

  • It is not correct to talk about an ‘AIDS test.’ AIDS is a collection of conditions which affect the body which is weakened by HIV. ‘HIV test’ is the proper term because you can only test for the HI-virus, which if left untreated, brings on the AIDS syndrome.
  • Phrases like ‘the spread of HIV-Aids’ are partially false. While the spread of HIV which is an infectious agent can be addressed, AIDS is a syndrome and does not spread like a contagion.
  • HIV and AIDS (not HIV/AIDS) can be used together in certain cases. For example if writing about programmes or campaigns which address both HIV and AIDS.

Using the terms HIV and AIDS in the correct way is essential because terms like ‘AIDS virus’ and ‘AIDS test’ are inaccurate and consequently misleading. This misinformation can result in setbacks in the areas of HIV prevention and treatment and stigma, due to a misinformed public.

To read the WHO terminology guidelines click here.
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