Offering reassurance

Published: 01 October 2011
  • Care needs to be taken when offering advice on HIV transmission to people who are disproportionately anxious.

It is essential for anyone seeking to provide reassurance for HIV/AIDS-related fears (no matter how groundless) to start from an understanding that facts alone (no matter how convincing) may not be enough to assuage such fears. Equally, it is important not to dismiss people with these anxieties as simply the 'worried well'. Such an approach is likely to fail to reassure them.

It may be helpful to put those facts back into the context of the fears they came out of. A five-step guide to presenting the facts is outlined below.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.
Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.