ABSTRACT
Africa's HIV/AIDS situation remains cause for concern. The impact of HIV is considerable and threatens the survival and development of African societies. Although much has been attempted; the results still leave much to be desired. AIDS is an epidemic that needs to be addressed with much creativity and spirit of initiative. It is against this background that the 3rd African conference on the social aspects of HIV/AIDS brought innovations in the way international conferences are designed; activities implemented and results obtained. The innovations concerned the approach to international conferences and take into account reconceptualising HIV/AIDS so as to encourage holistic approaches and better visibility of vulnerable groups.The activities of the conference were organised in such a way as to get people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA); grassroots communities and marginalised groups to play a focal role.The conference offered an opportunity for developing cultural activities that would translate the African cultural concepts that had been identified as important in the HIV situation and response analysis. Interaction at the conference created an opportunity to analyse the various dimensions of the political; cultural and economic determinants. The conference offered food for thought around response construction while singling out the themes of urgency and acceleration of response; synergy construction; and coordination and conception of political responses
Subject(s)
HIV , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Congress , Culture , Delivery of Health CareABSTRACT
A total of 224 men and 276 women living in a Black township in Cape Town; South Africa; were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Information was elicited on demographic characteristics and sexual behaviours over the three months preceding the interview including engaging in sexual contact that involved blood; lifetime history of STI diagnoses and STI symptoms; and HIV prevention knowledge. Thirty six per cent of the men and 28 of women experienced sexual contact involving blood in the past three months. Sexual blood contact was associated with the number of sex partners; unprotected intercourse and sexually transmitted infections. Sexual exposure to blood is prevalent and may be a facilitating factor for HIV transmission in South Africa. Modern medical care providers as well as traditional healers should be encouraged to advise their clients to refrain from sexual intercourse during menstruation and other types of genital bleeding
Subject(s)
HIV , Disease Transmission, Infectious , FemaleABSTRACT
The links between gender roles; gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS risk are complex and culturally specific. In this qualitative study we investigated how women and men in two black communities in the Western Cape; South Africa; constructed their gender identities and roles; how they understood gender-based violence; and what they believed about the links between gender relations and HIV risk. First we conducted 16 key informant interviews with members of relevant stakeholder organisations. Then we held eight focus group discussions with community members in single-sex groups. Key findings included the perception that although traditional gender roles were still very much in evidence; shifts in power between men and women were occurring. Also; gender-based violence was regarded as a major problem throughout communities; and was seen to be fuelled by unemployment; poverty and alcohol abuse. HIV/AIDS was regarded as particularly a problem of African communities; with strong themes of stigma; discrimination; and especially 'othering' evident. Developing effective HIV/AIDS interventions in these communities will require tackling the overlapping as well as divergent constructions of gender; gender violence and HIV which emerged in the study