Question

Africa has the highest rate of HIV in the world. Why is this the case? What is it about the citizens of Africa that causes a higher rate? What other factors are responsible?

Answer 1

HIV and AIDS is a major public health concern of death in many African countries.AIDS rates vary dramatically although the majority of cases are concentrated in Southern Africa.In response ,a number of initiatives have been launched in various parts of the continent to educate the public on HIV/AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a fatal disease caused by the slow acting Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) . The virus multiplies in the body until it causes immune system damage leading to diseases of the AIDS syndrome.HIV emerged in Africa in the year 1960 and travelled to the United States and Europe the following decade.In the 1980’s it spread across the globe until it became a pandemic.Some areas of the world were already significantly impacted by AIDS while in others the epidemic was just beginning.The Virus is transmitted by bodily fluid contact principally among homosexual men.Then in 1982 and 1983 heterosexual Africans also were diagnosed.The Abstinence,be faithful. ,use condom(ABC) strategy to prevent HIV infection promotes safer sexual behaviour and emphasises the need for fidelity, fewer sexual partners and a later age of sexual debut.

Regional Prevalence:

In contrast to areas in North Africa and the Horn of Africa traditional cultures and religions in Sub-Saharan Africa have generally exhibited a more liberal attitude to female out -of-marriage sexual activity.The latter includes practices such as multiple sexual partners and unprotected sex,high -risk cultural patterns that have been implicated in the much greater spread of HIV in the subcontinent.

Causes and Spread:

1)East and Southern Africa is the region most affected by HIV in the world and is home to largest number of people living with HIV.

2)The HIV epidemic in this region is generalised but young women ,men who have sex with men ,transgender people ,sex workers, prisoners and people who inject drugs are at an increased vulnerability to infection.

3)Improved availability of HIV testing services now means less than two out of every ten people living with HIV are unaware of their status.

4)The number of people living with HIV in East Southern Africa continues to increase, but access to antiretroviral treatment is increasing as well.

5)Although laws and cultural traditions vary between East and Southern African countries ,here are a number of ingrained cultural, structural and leal barriers to HIV prevention.

Behavioural Factors:

High risk behavioural patterns are largely responsible for the significantly greater spread of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa than in other parts of the world.Chief among these are the traditionally liberal attitudes espoused by many communities inhabiting the subcontinent toward multiple sexual partners and pre-marital and outside marriage sexual activity.Natural disasters and conflict are also major challenges ,as the resulting economic problems people face can drive many young women and girls into patterns of sex work in order to ensure their livelihood or that of their family or else to obtain safe passage,food,shelter or other resources.

Groups most affected by HIV in East and Southern Africa:

a)Young Women -15 -24 years

b) Children between 0-14 years mainly from mother to children through birth

c)Sex Workers -More than 55% of all sex workers in the region are estimated to be living with HIV.

d)Men having sex with men (MSM)

e)People who inject drugs(PWID)

f)Prisoners and HIV in East and Southern Africa-It is due to the fact that prisons are high risk environments for HIV transmission ,fuelled by over -crowding, limitited access to health care, drug use, unsafe injecting practices, sexual violence, unprotected sex and tattooing.