“Donn’t Blame the People…” – Why and How Social Work Can Use Knowledge from People with Lived Experience of HIV/AIDS

Monika Bjeloncikova, Vendula Gojova

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the article is to answer the question of why and how the field of social work can use knowledge from people with lived experience of HIV/AIDS. THEORETICAL BASE: Epistemologically, the text is based on the system of social constructionism, and research findings are discussed in the context of Ulrich Beck’s risk society theory and Radka Janebová’s risk discourse. METHODS: Using cartographic tools for situational analysis, we interpreted the partial results from the initial qualitative research and analysed them along with the process of risk construction. OUTCOMES: Based on their experiential knowledge, research participants formulated their expectations from social workers based on desires to be respected and not judged, as well as to play an active role in social work. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: In conclusion, we justified why lived experience perspectives should be included in social work knowledge areas and proposed three recommendations on how this can be best achieved.

Keywords
social constructionism, discourse of risks, lived experience, situational analysis, HIV/AIDS

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