South Africa is an extremely unique country with their history of apartheid and democracy coming soon after. But, no one really knows what to expect next of the “Rainbow Nation”. One troubling factor the country cannot seem to shake is the unprecedented HIV/AIDS epidemic. South Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world when comparing citizens affected to any other country. According to O’Neil’s “Cases in Comparative Politics” at the height of the epidemic, near 1,000 South Africans were dying daily even though treatment has become more widespread and affordable. 48% of South Africa’s adults are on antiretroviral treatment, this equates to the number of adults with the disease. A number of factors do effect these numbers though, such as socioeconomic status, and generation. Nonetheless, the levels of HIV/AIDS in this country is devastatingly high. Throughout my country analysis I will be focusing on the cause as well as effects that HIV/AIDS has on South Africa, while also finding the role that poverty plays in all of this. The government also may have some effect on the failing health infrastructure which also effects the spreading and contracting of such devastating diseases.
In 1981, “five young, previously healthy gay men” from Los Angeles were diagnosed with a rare lung disease. And by the end of that year, “270 cases of severe immune deficiency among gay men were reported – 121 of them had died.” This was the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. By the end of 1995, there were an estimated 4.7 million new HIV infection cases globally. Nearly half, 1.9 million, in sub-Saharan Africa. Ever since the very beginning the disease has been running rampant. The disease is spread through direct contact through certain body fluids (such as: blood, semen, rectal/vaginal fluids and breast milk) from someone who has HIV. Therefore, HIV is not only spread through sexual contact but also activities such as sharing needles, breast feeding or birth, and in more extreme cases receiving a blood transfusion.
HIV/AIDS a troubling problem for any country for many reasons. One major factor that will be discussed is the difference between adults in poverty with HIV/AIDS and adults that have HIV/AIDS in a higher socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status affects the possible results of HIV/AIDS for many reasons. Firstly, HIV affects individuals with a lower socioeconomic status at extremely disproportionate levels. A lack of socioeconomic resources is linked to the practice of riskier health behaviors, which can lead to the contraction of HIV. These behaviors include earlier initiation of sexual activity and less frequent use of condoms. When a person it Is not educated about simple risks they’re obviously more likely to engage in that risky behavior. People with higher socioeconomic levels are more likely more educated over the risks, and generally more educated overall. These people with higher social economic statuses also have more resources to protect themselves before contracting the disease, or treat themselves after contracting the disease.
One concerning fact considering the generational gap is that one in four South Africans of working age has HIV/AIDS, this makes it much more likely for the disease to be spread amongst people working together, simply just friends or possible relationships if a person is not aware that they have the disease. Though they are much more educated about condom usage and risks for HIV than the previous generation, this age group still seems to demonstrate high rates of sexual practices that placed them at risk for HIV infection. But, younger children in South Africa are being affected by the disease in an unprecedented way. “A rare group of children unknowingly find themselves naturally resistant to the effects of HIV”. Scientists are beginning to believe that even without antiretroviral treatment these children will never develop AIDS. But, this isn’t the end all be all of the disease. This phenomenon only happens in every 1 out of 10 children in South Africa meaning this is extremely rare, especially from a global standpoint. Scientists are currently trying to figure out how to convert someone into a non-progressor, but until then antiretrovirals are all we have. (Meera Senthilingam, 2016)
HIV/AIDS in South Africa is also somewhat affected by social and cultural norms of South Africa. Child rape is becoming more common due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. A widely known myth in south Africa has caused man with HIV to rape virgin children/ babies in order for a cure. This is concerning to developed countries for many reasons. Firstly, rape is never okay, even if it is to cure someone else of their life-threatening disease. Next, the fact that these men are raping and possibly giving off their disease to an innocent child or baby makes the situation even worse (Bereford, 2003). Not that rape is a norm in South Africa, but the occurrences are happening more often. Other sociocultural factors influencing HIV/AIDS is marriage and/or polygamy. In places like Africa, polygamy and early marriages are much more common than in the U.S. If a husband has multiple wives, this makes the possibility for HIV higher especially if any of the spouse have extra-marital sexual contacts or even previous sexual relations before marrying. Early marriage also increases a young girls’ chances to contract HIV since they are most likely forced into the relationship, thus forced to engage in sexual intercourse with their new husband who is typically much older and much more sexually experienced and or HIV infected whereas the young girl is not.