Browsing by Author "Sharjeel Abbas"

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    PAKISTANI MSM INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM HIV, FACING SOCIAL ISOLATION AND UNSTABLE LIVELIHOOD IN LAHORE
    (UMT.Lahore, 2024) Sharjeel Abbas
    The state of Pakistan is a conservative state with laws and societal norms discouraging its members to refrain from practicing particular behaviors, one of which is homosexuality. Homosexuality is considered a taboo in Pakistani society with multiple stakeholders involved posing as barriers to discourage this practice. The homosexual community of Pakistan is a High Risk Group, a group which is more likely to be violated by others and contract dangerous diseases, one of which is HIV. HIV has a lot of stigmatization associated with it in Pakistan which can lead patients to social isolation that can ultimately result in an unsustainable livelihood. This research aims to study the living conditions of such individuals identifying themselves as homosexuals who are suffering from HIV and how the stigma associated with homosexuals and HIV is affecting their lives. A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with 10 homosexuals with HIV was held to gain an in-depth view of the living conditions of such individuals. Upon conducting the study, it was revealed how these individuals are suffering from depression, anxiety and treated as an outcast member of the society due to the stigma and discrimination associated with both homosexuals and HIV