LOOSING THE FIGHT? CONDOM USE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Sub Saharan Africa is the region with the world's highest rates of HIV infections and other sexually transmitted infections also known as STIs. However, the irony of it all is that condom use among people here is rare according to numerous scholarly research based in the area. Governments spend millions of dollars every year in the fight against the disease. However, decades later after discovery of the first case of the infection there hasn’t been success in containing the overall spread. HIV/AIDS still remains a major cause of death among the population.
The big question right now among the numerous governments and organizations is, are we losing the war against HIV/AIDS? Are the mitigation measures in place effective in combating the scourge?
In a report published by UNaids in September last year, the organization expressed concerns over the few usage of condoms by people in several African countries, notably those in the sub-Saharan region, yet there's evidence of rise in number of people having multiple sex partners.
The report, clearly states that while there is substantial indicators of good progress made on meeting the 2015 target in terms of halving transmission of the virus, ending of child infections and ensuring availability of medicine, not much has been achieved towards reducing infections among drug users.
It also noted a 34% decrease in the number of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa, recorded between the year 2001 and 2012, but was disappointed with the region still accounting for 70% of the estimated 2.3 million new infections globally. This makes many pose the question over condom use. what influences people to use condoms as a preventive measure?
It's hard to pinpoint the overall factors that influence the use of both the female and the male condoms in the population. However, it's evident that condom use in sub-Saharan Africa involves some complex social and interpersonal dynamics, coupled with structural and cultural conditions exerting some influence through framing social cognitions and setting boundaries on autonomy that make the apparently irrational choice of eschewing condoms a rational decision.
Factors of consideration include the influences of poverty, relationship with parents, peers and also those with partners. Its seemingly sad that at that this age and time, there are people who still can't afford the price of a condom pack! In Kenya, Isiolo district made headlines some months ago over residents resulting to recycling of condoms by hanging them outside to dry!
Surprised? well, don't be. That's not all. Other generally accepted factors include: limited, insufficient or even total absence of information especially among the rural people and among homosexuals, gender norms set out by the society, beliefs and attitudes about HIV and the dynamics of gendered power (the women empowerment thing).
The influence of all these factors have coincidentally been proven to work against condom use among a very large proportion of the population. This has further been worsened by the position of the church, especially the catholic church concerning the issue of condom use in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS. The catholic church is inevitably the largest private provider of healthcare to HIV patients in the world. in the year 2010, the then head of the church, pope Benedict characterized and described the use of condom as being "unreal" and "it not being a moral solution" to the spread of HIV/AIDS, but potentially "a first step" in the direction of moralization and responsibility when used with the" intention of reducing the risk of infection".
This controversial position of the catholic church has greatly brought out issues over its collaboration with other aid organizations including USAID in the provision of AIDS care and education. However, on the positive side, research results this year are showing a positive trend in condom use among single women in several African countries; and increase in acceptance and usage of condoms among university students and resistance to succumbing to the dominant gender-power dynamics. Right now, student hostels have condom dispensers permanently installed to boost usage among peers.
The war isn't over yet brother, brace on!
Sub Saharan Africa is the region with the world's highest rates of HIV infections and other sexually transmitted infections also known as STIs. However, the irony of it all is that condom use among people here is rare according to numerous scholarly research based in the area. Governments spend millions of dollars every year in the fight against the disease. However, decades later after discovery of the first case of the infection there hasn’t been success in containing the overall spread. HIV/AIDS still remains a major cause of death among the population.
The big question right now among the numerous governments and organizations is, are we losing the war against HIV/AIDS? Are the mitigation measures in place effective in combating the scourge?
In a report published by UNaids in September last year, the organization expressed concerns over the few usage of condoms by people in several African countries, notably those in the sub-Saharan region, yet there's evidence of rise in number of people having multiple sex partners.
The report, clearly states that while there is substantial indicators of good progress made on meeting the 2015 target in terms of halving transmission of the virus, ending of child infections and ensuring availability of medicine, not much has been achieved towards reducing infections among drug users.
It also noted a 34% decrease in the number of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa, recorded between the year 2001 and 2012, but was disappointed with the region still accounting for 70% of the estimated 2.3 million new infections globally. This makes many pose the question over condom use. what influences people to use condoms as a preventive measure?
It's hard to pinpoint the overall factors that influence the use of both the female and the male condoms in the population. However, it's evident that condom use in sub-Saharan Africa involves some complex social and interpersonal dynamics, coupled with structural and cultural conditions exerting some influence through framing social cognitions and setting boundaries on autonomy that make the apparently irrational choice of eschewing condoms a rational decision.
Factors of consideration include the influences of poverty, relationship with parents, peers and also those with partners. Its seemingly sad that at that this age and time, there are people who still can't afford the price of a condom pack! In Kenya, Isiolo district made headlines some months ago over residents resulting to recycling of condoms by hanging them outside to dry!
Surprised? well, don't be. That's not all. Other generally accepted factors include: limited, insufficient or even total absence of information especially among the rural people and among homosexuals, gender norms set out by the society, beliefs and attitudes about HIV and the dynamics of gendered power (the women empowerment thing).
The influence of all these factors have coincidentally been proven to work against condom use among a very large proportion of the population. This has further been worsened by the position of the church, especially the catholic church concerning the issue of condom use in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS. The catholic church is inevitably the largest private provider of healthcare to HIV patients in the world. in the year 2010, the then head of the church, pope Benedict characterized and described the use of condom as being "unreal" and "it not being a moral solution" to the spread of HIV/AIDS, but potentially "a first step" in the direction of moralization and responsibility when used with the" intention of reducing the risk of infection".
This controversial position of the catholic church has greatly brought out issues over its collaboration with other aid organizations including USAID in the provision of AIDS care and education. However, on the positive side, research results this year are showing a positive trend in condom use among single women in several African countries; and increase in acceptance and usage of condoms among university students and resistance to succumbing to the dominant gender-power dynamics. Right now, student hostels have condom dispensers permanently installed to boost usage among peers.
The war isn't over yet brother, brace on!
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