VARIOUS REASONS THAT HAVE LED TO INCREASED HIV/AIDS SPREAD IN AFRICA


According to World Health Organization, the developing countries especially in Africa, have the highest number of HIV infections in the whole world, about 32 million people. The worst hit regions include countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbambwe and others.
Am going to discuss the major factors that has fueled HIV/AIDS epidemic and some ways to help reduce the epidemic.
1.Promiscuity
Promiscuity is now the leading cause of the spread of HIV in developing regions. Many people have more than one sexual partner, and also prostitution is common. It is being practiced by both young adults and married people. Surprisingly, studies show that 60% of new infections are occurring among married people<by Gibson D.R.>
2.Ignorance
Many people living in this regions are fully aware of the disease, but they get involved in practices that fuel its spread and transmission. HIV can be protected with condoms but many people are reluctant to use them even when getting intimate with new partners. This is ignorance and it is adversely driving HIV epidemic, the whole world{by Kelly m.j}
3.Illiteracy
The third word countries have a large percentage of  people who know very little about HIV/AIDS. Most people know that the disease exists but lack information about its aspects ie:its transmission and preventive measures and they continue to engage in unsafe practices that spread the virus.  The people are also influenced by the beliefs, myths and misconceptions about the disease.{by Kelly m.j}
4.Poverty
The developing countries has a large population of people living in poverty. Most poor people are forced to do anything to earn a living which include in sexual activities which is a high risk factor for the disease. There has been many cases of young people getting involved in commercial sex in these countries. Poor people have limited access to education which means that illiteracy is common among them.[by Theodore K]
5.Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Drug and alcohol abuse is quite common among the youth in developing countries. According to studies there have been a consistent new HIV infections resulting from sharing of injectors among the drug users in these countries.[Liu H]
Alcoholism leads to not being able to make wise decisions when getting involved in sexual activities.
6.HIV/AIDS Stigma
People living with the virus are still stigmatized in the developing world, and this causing many people to avoid HIV testing. Most people tested and found with the virus do not reveal their status and some find it difficult to get Antiretroviral drugs or to use them
Those who do not know their status continue to get involved in high risk behaviors and activities thus may get the virus from infected persons or spread it to others who don’t have
7.Cultural factor
The most common cultural factors fueling the spread of HIV/AIDS in the developing world include polygamy and wife inheritance. If one partner is infected, he or she spreads the virus to the other partner in a marriage . In wife inheritance, HIV spreading occurs if the new husband or the widow has virus. According to researchers, most widows are HIV positive
Conclusion
According to my own studies, it is possible to avoid the spread of HIV/AIDS in developing countries. If people can avoid promiscuous behaviours, government to provide better health care to people liing with the virus and enhance awareness among the people and education about the virus, these countries can have a very low or zero prevalence rates.

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