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Preferred Language


Why is it important to use preferred language?

Language regarding HIV can either empower or stigmatize a person living with HIV. Although a term may be correct or clinically accurate, it can also negatively impact a person's self-worth and confidence. Over the years, there have been growing concerns with the stigma attached to these terms. It is important to use preferred language in order empower people living with HIV and reduce stigma around HIV.
The provided guide (below) was created for and by 'People Living with HIV' in order to address stigma related to HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS Preferred Language Guide

​Stigmatizing

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  • HIV infected person
  • HIV or AIDS patient
  • AIDS or HIV Carrier
  • ​Positives or HIVers

  • Died of AIDS
  • To die of AIDS
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​    AIDS virus      


​Full-blown AIDS
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​Preferred

  • Person living with HIV, PLHIV. Do not use "infected" when referring to a person.
  • Use People First Language, ​which empha- sizes the person, not their diagnosis.
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  • Died of AIDS-related illness
  • Died of AIDS-related compli-cations or end of stage HIV

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HIV (AIDS is a diagnosis not a virus - it cannot be transmitted)
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There is no medical definition for this phrase - simply use the term AIDS or Stage 3 HIV

Stigmatizing

HIV virus
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​Zero new infections
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HIV infections
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HIV infected
Number of infections
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  • End HIV
  • End AIDS

​Preferred

This is redundant; use "HIV".
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Zero new HIV acquisitions or transmissions
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HIV  transmissions
diagnosed with HIV/PLHIV
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  • living or diagnosed with HIV
  • contracted  acquired HIV
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  • ​number diagnosed with HIV
  • number  of HIV acquisitions
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  • End HIV transmission
  • Be specific: are we ending HIV or AIDS?

Stigmatizing

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Became infected
​HIV -exposed infant
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Serodi-scordant couple
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Mother to child transmission

​Preferred

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  • Contracted
  • acquired
  • diagnosed with
Infant exposed to HIV​
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  • serodifferent couple
  • magnetic couple
  • mixed status couple
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  • vertical transmission
  • perinatal transmission

Stigmatizing

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  • Victim
  • Innocent Victim
  • Sufferer
  • Contaminated
  • Infected

AIDS orphans
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  • To catch AIDS
  • To contract AIDS
  • To transmit AIDS
  • To catch HIV

​​Preferred

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  • Person living with HIV
  • survivor
  • warrior
  • Do not use "infected" when referring to a person
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  • children orphaned by loss of parents
  • guardians who died of AIDS related complications
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  • an AIDS diagnosis
  • developed AIDS
  • to contract HIV
  • AIDS is a diagnosis, which cannot be passed from one person to the next

Stigmatizing


​Compliant  
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  • prostitute
  • prostitution

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Promiscuous
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Unprotected sex

Preferred


​​Adherent
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  • Sex worker
  • sale of sexual services
  • transactional sex
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  • This a value judgement & should be avoided
  • instead use this phrase "having multiple partners"
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  • condomless sex with PrEP
  • condomless sex without PrEP
  • sex not protected by condoms
  • sex not protected by antiretroviral prevention methods

​Stigmatizing

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  • Death Sentence
  • Fatal condition
  • Life-threatening condition
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  • "tainted" blood
  • "dirty" needles
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Clean, as in "I am clean are you?"
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"a drug that prevents HIV infection"

​Preferred

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  • A serious health issue
  • Chronic health condition
  • manageable health for people who have access to care and treatment
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  • blood containing HIV
  • shared needles
  • shared syringes
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Referring to yourself or others as being "clean" suggestions that those living with HIV are dirty. Avoid!
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a drug that prevents
transmission of HIV

The information in this guide was developed and gathered by the following organizations:

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The Well Project


​Community Health

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Iris House


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Rutgers Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center

​

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​Ser+
Francis House
​HIVE

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    • HARM REDUCTION: A NECESSARY SOLUTION
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