HIV and Aids in the Southern African Region - Essay Example

? HIV/Aids in the Southern African region Introduction With no doubt; the Southern region of Africa is the most affected with HIV and Aids. It is documented that, 14, 000 people get infected daily with HIV and 11, 000 on a daily basis (Benchop 2005, p. 22). This region has the highest poverty level to the extent that many cannot afford basic needs. Most people are living below the poverty line and thus end up engaging into risky sexual behaviors to afford basic resources. Poverty is a core factor that has contributed to widespread of HIV as many people engage into commercial sex work to afford the basic needs. It is estimated that, 40 million people are living with HIV and Aids, and in all, one in three adults have HIV. In essence, HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa has affected an enormous population thus, increasing death cases. It borne in mind; Southern region of Africa consist of various countries such as Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia among others. Throughout Southern Africa, there has been rapid spread of HIV/AIDS among pregnant women whereby in Southern Africa, the number increased from 1.8% to 24.0% in the year 2001 (Lewis 1999, p.33). The HIV pervasiveness level of women being affected from 1990 to 2001 has increased rapidly. In Namibia, HIV has affected a large number of people from young to old. In all ages, the young people are the most affected, with a rapid spread of HIV among people of the age 12-35 Years. In the region of Southern Africa, HIV is mostly spread through Sexual intercourse breastfeeding, and blood transfusion. Many people in Southern Africa are so poor that, they not only lack money, but skills and assets. As a result, people endeavor to acquire basic needs, and in the process indulge into risky behaviors such as commercial sex to attain basic needs. With this in mind, HIV infection is typically confined to the Southern region Africa whereby, 40 million people are living with HIV and Aids. Following this, this paper seeks to discuss factors that are contributing to the spread of HIV/Aids in the Southern African region. Factors contribution to the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Southern region In essence, there are various factors that are contributing to the rapid spread of HIV and Aids in Southern Africa. First, poverty that compels most people to indulge into risky behavior in an attempt to bring resources for survival. Studies outline that, African countries are the worst affected with poverty whereby, most people live below the poverty line (Whiteside 1990, p.20). In all Southern African countries, South Africa and Botswana are the most economically developed, while other countries live in extreme poverty. In this case, poverty is attributed by unemployment that is on a higher rate in the Southern African region. In effect, all factors that predispose people to HIV and Aids infection are goaded by poverty that tends to create an environment of risk. Studies show that, poverty in Southern Africa region refers to lack of basic needs. In the average, the European worker earns about twenty times what the average African earns (Susser 2011, p.10). As a result, there has been a wide gap in income between an African and an individual from a developed country. With the majority of the population living below the poverty line, most people have been forced to engage into alternative opportunities in an attempt to earn a livelihood for the household. In Southern Africa region, millions of people have continued to engage into commercial sex work on a daily basis, and even those who are not commonly thought of, find themselves in commercial sex work. Despite the widespread of HIV, many have been forced to engage into sexual transaction to obtain money. In this regard, those with money have taken advantage of the situation whereby; the older men with money are procuring sex with young ladies in exchange of money and gifts. With this in mind, sex transaction and sex work, which in this case are poverty driven, are expected to foster behaviors, which are risk-taking to contribute to the spread of HIV/Aids. People who engage into sexual transaction are less likely to take serious precautions in regard to protected sex, and as a result, they are more exposed to the high risk of HIV infection. This is because, they are after all looking for survival for their households, and whatever comes in is fully embraced. Outrageously, in sexual transaction, they are those who may opt for unprotected sex in exchange of better payment, and in such times, sex workers may be forced to turn into the trap as they hope for a better payment. Unknowingly, the victim proposing for unprotected sex may be HIV infected, and as a result, sex workers may be highly exposed to the infection. This follows that many people may be forced to adopt into commercial sex work for survival in an increasingly complex economy. Secondly, traditional and cultural practices have contributed to the widespread of HIV and Aids. Under traditional and cultural practices, polygamy has been established mostly in Africa where social practices are imposed to ensure a continued status for survival of orphans and windows in an established family structure. In Southern African region, traditional polygamy is obligated where one is allowed to have many wives. In some few cases, those with one wife have many sexual partners who in turn, pose a risk of contracting HIV and Aids. According to Poku (2005, p. 10), men who have three or more wives are at high risk of contracting HIV and Aids. There have been misconceptions on the fact that, men can rid themselves from HIV/AIDS by engaging into sexual intercourse with a virgin. As a result, many girls have been raped and, consequently infected with AIDS/HIV. In Southern Africa region, young girls have subsequently been infected with HIV due to the false belief that engaging into intercourse with virgins eradicates HIV infection. Widow inheritance is among traditional and cultural practices in many Southern Africa countries. In many countries, a man’s property including brothers, wife, sons, and daughters are inherited. One of these cultural rituals is widow inheritance whereby, the widow agrees to be married by her husband’s younger or older brother so as continue being a family member. In case of negation, the widow is excluded from the family and left to take care of the children alone. In fear of taking all responsibilities, widows are forced to marry a member of the family, which poses a high risk of HIV infection. In such cases, if a man died of HIV/Aids and has infected his wife, it is obvious that, the younger brother will be infected upon marrying the deceased brother’s wife. Thirdly, dry sex is a core factor that is contributing to widespread of HIV/AIDS. In this case, dry sex refers to the tightening or drying of the vagina using various methods such as household detergent, appliance of acerbic leaf concoctions, and powders to sop up vaginal lubrication. The main principle of dry sex is to boost fiction during sexual intercourse, increasing sex desires. These practices are vicious in terms of women’s health, in which lack of lubrication causes lacerations of the epithelial of the vagina, creating a portal for AIDS/HIV entry. Still, condoms break easily because of excessive friction thus, exposing women to Sexual transmitted diseases. Such tradition practices are so destructive to the woman’s health that increases high chances of HIV infection. It is estimated that, 50% of all women who engaged into dry sex, are HIV positive. This poses a great threat of increasing the exposure of HIV infection. Dry sex is mostly practiced in some parts of Southern Africa region. This makes those living in those parts vulnerable to the HIV infection, which is mostly enhanced by such practices. Fourthly, early marriages are a core factor contributing to the spread of HIV whereby young girls are forced to be married at a very tender age. In this case, in some parts of Southern Africa region, young girls are forced to marry older people who in some case may be HIV infected. In such cases, the parents may have chosen the child’s partner at birth, and when she reaches teenage hood, the girl is released to marriage with someone who may be four times older her age. With no doubt; this contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS since if the older person is HIV infected, the young girl may also be infected. Young girls are at a higher risk of contracting Sexual Transmitted diseases when they are forced to marry at a tender age. Medical experts affirm that, one out of three adults is HIV infected, which poses a danger to girls who are forced to marry people who may be HIV infected (Poku 2005, p.19). Many young girls from Southern Africa region are at high risk of being infected from HIV than any other group. Earlier on, the paper mentioned about the misconception that revolve Southern African Region that, men can get rid of HIV/AIDS by engaging into sexual intercourse with a virgin. This false belief has made most men marry young girls who are virgins to get rid of HIV infection. Now, without knowing, the parent may force her child into early marriage with a man who is HIV/AIDS infected. Fifthly, female circumcision is among factors that are contributing to widespread of HIV/AIDS infection. In Southern Africa region, women have been forced to practice female circumcision that aims at enhancing female maturity. Female circumcision has made most young girls become vulnerable of being infected from HIV infection. This being one of the traditional rituals, most cultures have respected female circumcision to the extent, in denial; one is excluded from the community. In fear of being excluded from the community, most ladies opt to undergo female circumcision, which makes the victims at risk of being infected with HIV infection. In a study, Patterson (2005, p.19) argue that, female circumcision consist high risk of subsequently being infected with HIV because, female circumcision causes lacerations of epithelial lining of the vagina, which eventually creates a portal for HIV. Still, during circumcision, there may not be strict measures and regulations regarding the objects used to carry out the ritual. Some may end up sharing sharp objects to carry out female circumcision, and as a result, creates a high risk of HIV infections. Women practicing female circumcision are at a high risk of contracting HIV infection than any other group (Mendel 2003, p.25). Therefore, this factor cannot be sidelined from contributing to the spread of HIV/Aids in the Southern African region. Sixthly, as mentioned earlier, most factors contributing to the widespread of HIV evolve poverty. Poverty makes many people become vulnerable to the HIV infection particularly, mothers who may not be financially stable. In this case, women who are HIV infected may end up breastfeeding their child who is not infected due to lack of food. In Southern Africa region, there are high cases of hunger strike, where many die from starvation. Now, mothers with children at a tender age, prefer to breastfeed their child to watching them die of starvation. Despite the mother being HIV infected, she may opt to breastfeed the child with an attempt of saving the child from starvation. As a result, the child gets infected of HIV infection borne in mind; breastfeeding is the leading cause of HIV transfer. In some case, mothers have confessed to be HIV infected, and this cannot hinder them from breastfeeding their children who may be starving to death. Many affirm that, they prefer saving their children to watching them die instantly of hunger. With no doubt; this creates high chances of the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Southern region whereby, poverty rank highest (Kellong 2002, p.13). Seventhly, lack of prenatal care is a leading factor among pregnant women of the spread of HIV/AIDS infection. In cases when the mother is HIV infected, she may end up infecting her baby. In facts, most pregnant within Southern African region cannot afford prenatal care and delivery cost. As a result, most are observed by traditional midwives who in turn help them in the delivery. It is obvious that, despite traditional midwives having expertise in helping out in delivery, they may not detect whether the mother is HIV/AIDS infected or not. As a result, this may pose a high risk of the child being infected from HIV. At this point, one should bear in mind that, prenatal care is paramount during pregnancy in that, it detects potential problems which may hinder successful delivery. In cases when a mother is HIV infected, doctors’ uses high measures of ensuring that the child is not infected. Still, prior to birth, the mother is advised not to breastfeed the baby to save her from HIV infection. When prenatal care is not available, it is obvious that, extra care is not imposed in saving the child life predominantly, if the mother is HIV/AIDS infected. It borne in mind; poverty has hindered most women to visit clinics regularly during pregnancy hence imposing danger in infection of Sexual Transmitted Diseases (Oden 1996, p.15). Conclusion From the above assumptions, it follows that, HIV/AID is predominant in Southern Africa region. As discussed in the paper, 14, 000 people get infected daily with HIV and 11, 000 die every day. Typically, 40 million people are infected of HIV and Aids, and in all, one in three adults have HIV. HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa has affected an enormous population thus, increasing death cases. Throughout Southern Africa, there has been rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, and the number of those infected has continued to increase gradually. In this paper it stands out that, there are various factors which are contributing to the widespread of HIV/AIDS. These include poverty that forces most people to pander to risky behavior in an effort to bring resources for survival (Webb 1997, p.17). All factors that prompt people to HIV and Aids infection are aggravated by poverty that creates an environment of risk. Millions of people have engaged into commercial sex work on a daily basis, and even though not commonly thought of, find themselves in commercial sex work. Secondly, traditional and cultural practices, which in turn, have contributed to the widespread of HIV and Aids. In this context, polygamy is exceedingly established to ensure a continued status for survival of orphans and windows in an established family structure. Still, widow inheritance is emphasized on where the widow is forced to be married by her husband’s younger or elder brother to prolong as a family member. Thirdly, dry sex practices, which are ferocious in women’s health, creating a portal for AIDS/HIV entry, and fourthly, early marriages whereby, young girls are forced to be married at a very tender age with people who are four times old their age and a time who may be HIV infected. Fifthly, female circumcision that creates a high risk for women infected from HIV/AIDS. Sixthly, breastfeeding despite having HIV/AIDS infection: aggravated by poverty as mothers save their children from starvation; and lack of prenatal care, which hinders pregnant mothers to detect potential problem that may cause unhealthy babies. To this point, this paper has effectively discussed factors that are contributing to the spread of HIV/Aids in the Southern African region. Bibliography Benchop, M. (2005). Land tenure, housing rights and gender in Namibia. New York: UN- HABITAT. Pp. 1-80. Kellong, W.K. (2002). HIV/AIDS in southern Africa. New York: Ashgate Publishing, Pp 1-105. Lewis, M. (1999). 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