Hiv Aids - Cultural Barriers

HIV is a virus transmitted from one person to the other through exchanging body fluids such asvaginal secretions, semen, blood and breast milk. The most common way to contract HIV/AIDSis through sexual contact, but it can also be transmitted by the sharing of unsterilized needles when injecting drugs, or during childbirth and breastfeeding. As the virus reproduces, it damages the immune system and the body becomes prone to illness and infection. There is no known curefor HIV infection.

The HIV epidemic has been and still is a priority in most developed and developing countries in the world. Millions have died in the past and have left behind a generation of orphans all over the world due to the cultural barriers in society and other factors including low standards of living and unavailability of the necessary drugs commonly known as ARVs (Antiretroviral). I strongly believe that culture has played a big part in the driving of the HIV epidemic in most societies.

Cultural barriers have been the greatest cause of the HIV epidemic's wide spreading, not just in Africa but in other nations all around the world. A lot of research has been done on ways to alleviate the epidemic and the greatest challenge has been that of different cultural beliefs, religious affiliations and gender inequalities in society. In the Western countries, such as the U.K and the U.S.A, the highest rate of infection has been known to be associated with the minority groups of society such as the Black people, spanish and Asians.

Dr Fletcher M Phiri (2010) stated that every year in the UK, more people from Black and Minority and Ethnic (BME) communities are infected and affected by HIV and AIDS with women worse affected than men. Without going any further, in Namibia, the spreading of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is believed to be largely caused by cultural barriers in different tribes. The Herero are known to have sexual relations within the family, for a example, an uncle and his niece can have a sexual relationship and it is extremely encouraged in this particular ethnic group. In Kenya, a study was done on the common widow inheritance practice in the Luo ethnic community. This cultural practice is when a woman's husband passes away and another man inherits her as his wife. Though it was common in many African cultures, safe sex was and is rarely practiced in these instances. After the study was conducted, it was found that the issue was that some sexual behaviors that are conducted are causing the spread of the epidemic. Religion is also part of culture and most religious groups where prone to contracting HIV because of their beliefs.

The Roman Catholics were strongly against the use of contraceptives of any form, including condoms because it would imply immorality and disobedience in the procreation belief and expression of God's love within a marriage. It was as serious cause for concern because one of the most effective ways of practicing safe sex is to use condoms; however, Pope Benedict made a public statement that condoms should be used in the prevention