Africa: Fear Helps to Increase HIV Infections
Written by Takeru
Harassment and isolation is a social norm for many countries in Africa , since many feel it is unnatural for men -- and women -- to engage in same-sex relationships. Homosexuals in these countries have found ways to group together and still, partially, live the lives they desire. Some are able to get away with living double lives; marrying, having children, etc. and then have another life which is partially spent with a gay partner. However, because of the harassment and isolation that is bestowed upon these gay men and women, many of them shy away from finding or reaching out to help groups or education classes on HIV prevention.
According to George Kanuma -- a gay rights activist in Burundi -- many gay men know that they can contract the disease by having sex with a woman but they do not know that they can still contract diseases with men just the same as with women.
The research in AIDS in Africa have been somewhat minimal since not many homosexuals feel confident enough to come out of their 'hiding' in fear of facing personal turmoil with other members of their village or town. Because of this hostility toward the gay community, which leads to their sap in confidence, researchers fear that research will grow at a glacial pace and there won't be much of an adequate response should the number of infections grow worse.
Many largely populated areas in these African countries still strive to bring education for those uneducated in the disease and how to prevent from contracting it and from infecting others. These special groups aim to sensitize and train those with the infection, providing the basic understanding of prevention as well as replenishing their confidence in life.
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Last Updated on 04 December 2009
