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[HIV and AIDS: a philatelic medical review]

Bertrand Lefrère1, Amélie Recoing2, Henri Agut3

  • 1Assistance publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, AP-HP, France, Université de Paris, UTCBS, CNRS-Inserm, Paris, France.

Virologie (Montrouge, France)
|April 15, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Postage stamps promote awareness of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS. A semiotic review of 356 stamps reveals diverse messages about prevention, education, and research.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Semiotics
  • Public Health Communication
  • Philatelic Studies

Background:

  • Postage stamps can be powerful tools for promoting social, educational, and philanthropic efforts against diseases, particularly infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS.
  • Numerous international postage stamps have been issued globally to address the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), reflecting the disease's significant impact.
  • The number of stamps related to HIV/AIDS is comparable to those addressing tuberculosis and malaria, highlighting the global focus on these health challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct the first semiotic review of international postage stamps focusing on HIV/AIDS.
  • To analyze the messages conveyed by these stamps regarding the disease's historical, scientific, and epidemiological context.
  • To characterize stereotypes and novel representations of HIV/AIDS on postage stamps.

Main Methods:

  • A multicriterion evaluation grid was developed for interpreting indices, icons, and symbols on postage stamps.
  • A systematic review and semiotic analysis of 356 international postage stamps related to HIV/AIDS were performed.
  • The analysis considered cultural and ideological messages in relation to the disease's context.

Main Results:

  • The review identified diverse representations and messages on HIV/AIDS postage stamps.
  • Analysis revealed how stamps conveyed information and promoted social attitudes towards the disease.
  • Stereotypical and innovative visual and symbolic elements were characterized across the stamp collection.

Conclusions:

  • Postage stamps serve as a significant medium for communicating public health information and fostering social engagement concerning HIV/AIDS.
  • The study underscores the potential of philately in advancing the understanding and combating of infectious diseases.
  • The analysis concludes with a call for upholding humanist values such as prevention, education, solidarity, empathy, healthcare, and research in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Keywords:
AIDSHIVhistorypostage stamp

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