Rapid Growth of HIV/AIDS in Africa

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Rapid Growth of HIV/AIDS in Africa
South Africa is considered to have more than six million victims of HIV/AIDS, which makes it one of the major HIV/AIDS regions in the world (Ploch 10). According to the statistics provided by World Health Organization in 2010, around 33.3 million people are suffering from HIV in different parts of the world. Surprisingly from this high population, more than 22 million i.e. 66% are only in Africa (WHO and UNAIDS). WHO further reported that everyday 7000 people including 1000 children get infected with this life threatening disease in different regions of the world. Unfortunately the majority of these newly infected people are Africans. Some efforts have been made to slow down such quick spread of this disease but they were not sufficient enough to control its quick spreading.
Looking at the critical situation of Africa, Johnny Steinberg who is a journalist, lecturer of African Studies at Oxford University and author of several books, showed his concern for the people of African countries by writing "Sizwes Test: A Young Man`s Journey Through Africa`s AIDS". In this book he has shown the constant AIDS problem in his country and explained how people refuse to get tested for HIV/AIDS with a fear of getting it positive. He has also shown that if HIV is treated decently than people for sure want to get cured.
He has portrayed this situation with the help of Sizwe Magadla, a well-educated and rich young man from rural pondoland. This man is the central player of his book and the main source through which Steinberg writes about Pondoland and its people. Steinberg has revealed in this book, the fears problems that are faced by the people of his homeland when they are suffering from HIV/AIDS. In an interview regarding his book, he said:
"When I set out to write this book, I went to one of the deepest rural areas in South Africa and there the prenatal prevalence rate was up to 30 percent. Literally, everyone knew somebody close to them who had HIV — whether they knew it or not, whether they denied it or not. Where it had been on the periphery of my world, I walked into a world where it was everywhere".
(Trotter, AIDS Foundation of Chicago)
Reasons for the Quick Spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa
Different researches have been performed to find out the main causes of the rapid spreading of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Most of the researchers are of the opinion that poverty plays a key role in its growth. The purpose of writing this paper is to examine the following thesis statement regarding poverty and HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Thesis Statement: Poverty is one of the significant factors that contribute to the rapid growth of HIV AIDS in Africa.
According to Ogunbodede, one of the most important factors that contribute in the quick growth of HIV AIDS in African countries is the increasing poverty. World Bank 2001 reports states poverty as one of the major economic issue in African countries due to which millions of African people suffer daily for the survival. Therefore, HIV AIDS is given little importance in Africa and focus of the people is more towards resolving the basic needs and survival issues.
In contrast to this, some studies contribute the idea that HIV/AIDS gives rise to poverty and it is not poverty which is increasing HIV/AIDS (Loewen & Whiteside 02). Its treatment is costly because of the other infections associated with it that require intensive care (Whiteside 313). According to World Bank reports; the economic growth of Africa reduced by 0.8% in 1990 only because of HIV/AIDS. Combined results for malaria and HIV/AIDS showed 1.2% shrinkage in the per capita growth of Africa between 1990 and 1995 (Whiteside 323). These statistics show that the economic condition of African countries is not improving due to HIV and as a consequence poverty is increasing.
Some researchers are of the view that former politicians did not handle HIV/AIDS issue seriously during their tenures. HIV/AIDS was a major political issue but lack of leadership and non-serious attitude of politicians diverted the attention and monetary focus towards other issues which made HIV/AIDS a challenge for the present generations (Ploch 10).
In order to support and prove the thesis statement that poverty is the main cause behind the rapid spread of HIV AIDS in Africa, it is important to explore the following factors.
1 Concurrent Sexual Relationships
Concurrent or simultaneous sexual relationships are very common in African countries. This kind of sexual relationship involves the overlap of partners over time, in order to get pleasure. Several mathematical disease models confirm that concurrent sexual relationships spread viral infections including HIV (Watts and May 89; Dietz and Tudor 143). This is due to the reason that there is very less time period between the ending of one partnership and the beginning of another. The virus of the current partnership does not get enough time to get dissolved and as a result sexual partners get infected from each other.
2 Distrust on West-Originated Medications
Due to bitter past relationships with Western civilizations stemming from slavery, poor socio-economic status and racial discrimination, the signs of which are still observable, there are high levels of distrust on medications and treatments introduced by the Western countries. Hence despite of being aware of the hazards of HIV, people are reluctant to use new medical treatments. According to a research by UNICEF, this lack of trust is often associated with the ‘Western Plot` theories of mass sterilization for reducing fast population growth while many perceive anti-HIV vaccines as a conspiracy to weaken African children (Anti-Vaccination Rumor-UNICEF). Such attitudes are strongly interconnected to lack of adequate education, social isolation and poor economic conditions of African countries such as Uganda.
3 Genital Mutilation of Girls
This process of genital cutting is practiced in several countries of Africa as a traditional ritual. According to WHO, around 92 million African girls have experienced this procedure (World Health Organization 04). In most of the cases; it is done at unhygienic places and with infected instruments. As a result, the young girls become victims and experience several genital problems for the rest of the life. Already suffering from hunger and other scarcities; they are now left with sensitive gynecologic health which increases their chances of getting HIV in future or even at the time of mutilation.
4 Different Priorities
Moller (208) pointed out that, vast sections of the African population are living an unacceptable quality of life. Due to limited earnings and weak financial position (Mbirimtengerenji, 2007), Africans give preference to the basic necessities of life and not towards HIV/AIDS check up and education. For example, a family having limited financial resources will focus first on the basic needs of life, which are food, water and shelter. It will not give priority to visiting a hospital, going for family HI...