For a long time, women living with HIV in high-income countries were advised against breastfeeding. Because of the health benefits of breastfeeding and new evidence showing extremely low transmission risk, Switzerland updated its recommendations in 2018. Since then, women living with HIV who wish to breastfeed are supported through a shared decision-making process – under strict medical conditions.
Thanks to modern treatments, children living with HIV today have very good medical prospects. They can grow up healthy and, with appropriate care, have a normal life expectancy. But their care goes far beyond medication: it also involves age-appropriate information, support for families, and preparation for an independent adult life.
Financial difficulties can affect anyone at any point in life. Switzerland has, for such situations, a broad network of state benefits. When these are insufficient or don't apply, the question arises whether, and under what conditions, family members must also provide financial support.
Corinne Rietmann is a sex educator and sexual health counselor at the specialized center Adebar in Graubünden. She works in schools as well as in counseling, and has long experience in the field of HIV, notably through her involvement with Swiss Youth Positive, a former group for young people living with HIV.
Despite major medical advances, people living with HIV in Switzerland continue to face very real forms of discrimination: refusal of treatment, breaches of confidentiality, prejudice in the workplace, social stigma, and more. It is essential to reaffirm that every person living with HIV has the fundamental right to lead a life of dignity, respect and freedom from discrimination — a commitment that the Swiss Aids Federation has upheld with determination for many years.
Physical activity helps regulate fat storage in the liver and reduces the risk of liver steatosis, a condition characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver.
HIV treatment can be something very personal. Look for healthcare professionals who understand your lived reality, are knowledgeable about trans issues, and whom you trust. Think in advance about what is important to you and what you want them to know about you. Ask open questions directly and seek support from friends if you feel unsure. These five questions can help you get targeted information from healthcare professionals and advocate for yourself.
For more than 35 years, World AIDS Day has taken place on December 1. It reaffirms the rights of people living with HIV and calls for a society free from prejudice and discrimination. It also commemorates those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. World AIDS Day is a moment of solidarity, awareness – and a call to stand together against ignorance and exclusion.
HIV/AIDS has transformed both world and Swiss history. Thousands of people have died of AIDS in Switzerland, and many lives continue to be affected by HIV today. For 40 years, Aids-Hilfe Schweiz has been dedicated to humanity, care, and the fight for equal health opportunities and sexual self-determination — particularly for people who are still denied these rights today. The Federal Council's goal of eliminating new HIV infections in Switzerland by 2030 is ambitious.
Few diseases have left such a lasting impact on Switzerland Since the first confirmed case in 1980, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Switzerland has claimed thousands of lives. At its peak, the virus caused over 500 deaths annually; today, the estimated death toll exceeds 6,600. Approximately 17,500 people currently live with HIV in Switzerland. Despite advances, around 350 new infections still occur each year (as of 2023), and this number is only decreasing slowly. But beyond the statistics and the human tragedies behind each case, HIV has become a unique social phenomenon.
In 1982, AIDS slowly began to gain attention in the media in Switzerland. The newspapers did not hesitate to stir up panic: the "gay plague" was said to have come to Switzerland. The epidemic was immediately moralized and portrayed as an issue affecting only gay men, drug addicts, and homeless people—not as a medical crisis (Aebersold 2020, 3; Ostertag 2008–2013). While the media waged a real witch-hunt against gay people and those affected by AIDS, behind the scenes there was likely a mix of panic and indifference. Although the first case was reported in 1980, it took almost half a decade for the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) to develop a strategy to address the spread of the virus (Aebersold 2020, 4).
Drugs are part of our society. The great crisis of the 1980s and 1990s remains unforgettable in Switzerland: Alongside the misery of open drug scenes, it also brought the spread of HIV and hepatitis. Since then, it has been clear: Only knowledge about drugs enables low-risk consumption.
Over forty years ago, when the HIV virus sent the world into panic, the ignorance was vast. Many myths about potential transmission risks led to stigmatization and exclusion. Those who stood in solidarity with people living with AIDS quickly realized that the problem was bigger than a nanometer-sized virus. It was one that affected the entire society.
Not only in the media, but also in academic and public discourse, the history of AIDS and HIV in Switzerland and other Western European countries is often referred to as a “model case.” Since the mid-1980s, exemplary prevention approaches were allegedly developed here—approaches that other regions were encouraged to adopt. But how do people in the countries receiving this international AIDS aid perceive it? Conversations with activists from Turkey paint a picture that is both critical and contradictory.
Lately, I've been experiencing various symptoms and I'm wondering if I'm entering menopause. However, I'm unsure whether my symptoms are actually related to menopause, caused by my HIV infection, or by the HIV medications. Do the menopause years in women with HIV proceed the same way as they do in women without HIV, or are there specific aspects I should be aware of?
In 1979, a brave group challenged the social norms of San Francisco by founding the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. This group, which combines drag, religious iconography, care, and activism, uses humor to address important issues around sexuality, gender, and morality. However, beyond their iconoclastic appearance, the Sisters have succeeded in creating spaces of resistance to prevailing expectations, opening a true path for the empowerment of marginalized communities, particularly people living with HIV.
When writing this article, I ask myself on what basis I can even approach this topic. The first seven years of my life with HIV were largely marked by silence, draining of strength and energy, concealment, anticipatory fears, and particularly insidious effects on my mental health. It is precisely in light of this experience and with the desire to involve others in my reflections that I approach this topic: to speak or not to speak, to dare to speak or not to dare, to have the space to speak, to have the chance to be heard, to allow oneself to speak about it, to anticipate the perceived or actual risks of bringing it up, to explore the field of possibilities available in speaking about one's life with HIV.
When it comes to HIV, it is unfortunately common for the discourse to be marked by negativity and inaccuracies. For example, there is persistent confusion between HIV and AIDS, and often the term "infection" is used (a word that, as we remember, is derived from "infect"), while transmission routes are frequently mentioned under the term "contamination."
Celebrating 40 years of community leadership in the fight against AIDS is bittersweet. Despite the fact that community leadership is considered to be of great political importance - including the goals of the UN General Assembly Political Declaration - there is still insufficient funding for action. At the same time, communities are under attack in some countries and civil society space is restricted in many places, partly due to a lack of funding. This makes real ownership and leadership impossible. However, we also see vulnerability and resilience. In some countries, the new conservative governments are deliberately closing down all spaces where communities were previously based. Against this backdrop, the evidence for the effectiveness and necessity of community leadership is growing.
Trans persons face severe HIV-related challenges, with trans men gender diverse individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) significantly overlooked in the global HIV response. Despite a significant need for specific responses, a persistent and often falls believe that trans men and AFAB gender diverse have a low risk of acquiring HIV has led to exclusion from critical health strategies. Emerging data and advocacy efforts aim to correct this disparity and foster inclusion.
Today, a healthy and long life with HIV is possible with early diagnosis and subsequent treatment and therapy without any problems. This knowledge is not yet widespread among the population, and there are many prejudices against people with HIV. with HIV. This does not make it easy to talk about HIV infection. Various topics are listed below where psychotherapy can have a supportive effect. It also deals with when and with whom you can talk about your diagnosis and how.
As of 2018, HIV-infected women with undetectable viral load can breastfeed in Switzerland if they wish. In these cases, postnatal monitoring is essential. However, despite a suppressed viral load at delivery, several studies have reported low adherence to HIV monitoring and insufficiently suppressed viral load after delivery.
Ageing brings individual challenges for everyone, but for people living with HIV, additional considerations and adjustments may be required. In this article, we look at specific aspects that older people living with HIV should consider, from medical considerations to social aspects and community support. A non-exhaustive list.
