WITCHCRAFT AND HIV
Myth is a widely held but false idea or belief,on the other hand witchcraft is the practice of and belief in magical skills and abilities exercised by solitary practitioners. It is a central to many African conceptions of illness, disease causation and etiology. It varies culturally depending with the society.
In many countries especially African countries people belief that HIV/AIDS is a spell that is cursed on a person through witchcraft.since an HIV/AIDS infected person may show signs like diarrhea and loss of weight which are classic symptoms of poisoning through witchcraft, suspicion of is retained as potential explanation for the ultimate reason behind the infection.
The infected person would then consulte a witchdoctor for medication thus leading to more deaths since they can not find proper medication to prolong their lives.Men and women who believe HIV/AIDS is spread through witchcraft are less likely to use protection (condoms) during sexual intercourse.
The fact behind this belief is that Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic,potentially life- threatening condition caused by Humam immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body ability to fight the organisms that cause diseases. HIV is a asexually transmitted infection (STI).
Professional cleansers who have since contracted HIV may be recruited to visit villages across the country which still believe in this myth to condemned the tradition they once practised as dangerous, irresponsible and misleading.
Selina
For many Africans ,even the knowledge that AIDS is caused by HIV - and that it is acquired through sexual contact - leaves room for the likelihood, or at least the possibility, that black magic/witchcraft caused the HIV infection in the first place. One particularly common myth in Africa holds that having sex with a virgin can cure a person of AIDS.
ReplyDeleteGreat observation Ann
DeleteCan someone please explain for me the last paragraph, am not getting
ReplyDeleteSelina explain this
DeleteIts unfortunate that up to date and in some communities still they cannot use condoms for protection and also do "traditional cleansing", by this witch doctors for mothers who are HIV positive ,hence they end up transmitting the same to innocent infants
ReplyDeleteVery disturbing to see people still behaving this way
DeleteThe about comment by hellen
DeleteThe above comment by Hellen
DeleteOK. ..Pls be indicating at the end of ur comment
DeleteA myth is just a believe in which sometimes cannot be true. In this time, we are living in a digital life where people now understands the causes of Aids unlike in traditional where they believed that Aids is a disease that comes by cursers,witchcraft and the rest. We can't relay on this mythes since we are enlightened with the reality. By Naomi
ReplyDeletefinding treatment and possibly even cure for AIDS is one thing but changing deeply rooted cultural belief is even harder
ReplyDeleteIn many countries all over the world belief in witches is common,and black magic is considerd part of everydy life.A 2010 poll of 18 countries in sub sahara Africa found that over half the population belief in magic ,witch doctors are not only consulted not only for healing diseases but also rwmoving curses or bringing luck.
ReplyDeleteOne human right activist in the small African country of Malawi ,Seodi white.Has been fighting for years to stem out the believe that magic can cure HIV.
STUDENT NAME .Ian Wanjohi
Very true Ian
DeleteIts quite unfortunate that most people from the remote areas still have the believe that HIV/AIDs is caused by a work of witchcraft but they need to know that the disease is reall and they need to be given education on it and what should do to prevent it
ReplyDeleteCivic edication needed...yea
DeleteTheir are still black people who believe that HIV may have spiritual causes,notably witchcraft attacks or loss of protection from ancestors through violeting cultural taboos.Therefore,people should not rely on this myth but rather look for strategies to prevent HIV infection.
ReplyDeleteAnd this is what is expected of us
DeletePeople who advocate about aids should go to rural places and educate them about HIV and how to prevent themselves because most of them believe in the myth
ReplyDeleteThere is no one else to do this except me and u
DeleteEven if many countries in the world are digitized ,they are section of communities that have being left behind in the analogue way of life thus practicing traditional culture and believing in them.There some who belief that Hiv is caused by witchcraft and having sex with a virgin one can be cured from the disease.This is strongly false because is caused through sexual intercourse,bloodtransfusion,through accidents ......e.t.c ,,,Hiv has no medical cure but just a medicine to give one a longer life by christine
ReplyDeleteVery true christine
DeleteIt's sad that those people who believe that HIV/AIDS is a curse/spell are the same people who don't want to take precautions and end up having it.Edward
ReplyDeleteAre u Edward Jamal
DeleteCultural belief about HIV is one thing that's so hard change in some the Africans most of them belief it's witchcraft which is not the case
ReplyDeleteIts our responsibility to help them think straight
DeleteSure through educating them and eliminating the kind of beliefs that they have relied on
DeleteIt is very difficult to teach this people that Hiv is real and not a witchcraft thus spreading it even more with the believe that having sex with a virgin will make infected person to b negative which is just a believe they have Faiza
ReplyDeleteThats true Faiza
DeleteThe best way to eliminate Aids permanently
ReplyDeleteIs simply by preventing transmission, and educating
People out there who still believes that Hiv aids
Is a witchcraft .This way Aids is guaranteed to be
gone in a few generation even if a cure is never found
Education, edication, education.
DeleteARVs make one live long and appear healthy
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think most people who believe that hiv is a curse, comes from the rural areas where most people dont get eduation, thus everyone has a responsibility to teach about this deadly disease that hiv is not a curse/spell. Also teach them how they can prevent themselves from it,
ReplyDeleteHIV/AIDS being a spell caused by witchcraft is just a traditional believe, but in modern society, we understand very well that AIDS is caused by a virus which is a tiny micro-organism which invades in a human body and reproduce itself breaking down the immune system of an individual. It has no cure not even witch-doctors can heal it as some individuals believe.
ReplyDeletedwelling on the fact that people are already aware about the this diseases,there are still some people who believes hiv was as aresults of witchcraft.These has made many people got infected because they have no idea that this diseases is transmmited through unprotected sex,so is our duty to educate this people on how hiv is transmitted to stop relying on myths.BY FAITH
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think the beliefs in witchcraft as a cause of AIDS is an underestimated factor when developing relevant health programmes . Implementing standards programmes is difficult if people do not understand how the disease is transmitted. People should do away with these sort of myths and start dwelling on the truth.
ReplyDeleteIt's simple... Africans tend to blame anything for their misfortunes and troubles
ReplyDeleteThey could not find answers for what HIV was and the most trusted people were witch doctors
They in turn gave wrong information to them misleading communities since they were still illiterate...
Let's hope that education helps us out of the pit of illiteracy
It's so funny how people still believe in witchcraft despite of knowing the virus that cause AIDS,and it is up to us to educate those from upcountry and let them know the facts about AIDS.
ReplyDeletepeople should not believe Hiv came from witchcraft or something abnormal like that instead they should keep in mind the virus is real and can affect everybody.
ReplyDeleteAfricans mostly refuse to believe that being infected is witchcraft since it has no cure and that is what makes them believe it more. By; Samia
ReplyDeleteTraditional belief in magic and witchcraft contributes to misconceptions and the spread of HIV because these people will most definitely not use condoms or get tested for HIV. This is sad because if they don't get educated or mobilized this deadly virus will sweep them away.
ReplyDeleteCertain population have stated that AIDS is Gods wrath since scripture condemns homosexual practice which AIDS was first observed in western world.... Mercy Mbuthia
ReplyDeleteIn most of africa communities they all believe that HIV is caused by witchcraft and it is a very difficult task to go and explain to them that the disease is real and has no cure.
ReplyDeleteBeliefs in superstitions and misconceptions leads to high rates of hiv since most traditions instead of seeking modern medication they continously use other ways that they believe in i.e invoking their forefathers thinking that its a curse .......by Immaculate
ReplyDeleteWe should educate people to stop believeing in witchcraft and also to know more about the disease. Zamzam
ReplyDeleteLet us eridicate the concept of myth from our community by using the knowledge we gained from this article
ReplyDeletePeople need to open their eyes and accept the fact that HIV is not in any way a curse or witchcraft. They should for once put away those customs and beliefs and myths and consult professionals for correct information.
ReplyDeleteMaureen
HIV is real and people need to know that from the article.about beliefs its past time as at now since people have witnessed about it killing many individuals in the society.
ReplyDeleteScientist realised that witchcraft is myth and therefore one should not believed it....hence according to me it can't cause either heals HIV..... By Rahma
ReplyDeleteTraditional beliefs in magic and withchcraft contributes to misconception and the spread of hiv in africa.by Zahara
ReplyDeleteMost african living in rural area still believe it is witchcraft and some go ahead and inherit woman or have sex with children as a way of cleansing themselves.
ReplyDeleteWitchcraft and myths of the African tradition towards HIV that it can still be treated even up to date, like of babu WA loliondo still giving hope to the society, we should look out for this kind of people and help them understand that HIV aids is real and may be they can help preach the truth about HIV being a disease and it does kill if not taken seriously.
ReplyDeleteFor those who believe hiv/Aids is causes by witchcraft are the once who lack education.almost all countries in Africa believe in witchcraft which results to high rate of HIV/Aids spread and in return leads to death.its a high time people get educated on the preventive measures of hiv/Aids
ReplyDeleteMen who believe AIDs can spread through witchcraft and other supernatural means we're less liklli to have used condom at last sexual intercourse,controlin co variable . women with similar beliefs were more likely to have experience sexual intecouinte bt less likely to have use condoms at last sex.
ReplyDeleteMen who believe AIDs can spread through witchcraft and other supernatural means we're less liklli to have used condom at last sexual intercourse,controlin co variable . women with similar beliefs were more likely to have experience sexual intecouinte bt less likely to have use condoms at last sex.
ReplyDeleteBy .... KHATRA MOHAMED
In Africa they believe its witchcraft which is not the case at all bacause the virus is real and can affect anyone
ReplyDeleteAs stated above this belief that witchcraft causes of HIV is mostly found in Africa hence this should push us to spread more education to people especially in the rural areas where witchcraft is rampant, so as to stop this belief
ReplyDeleteTraditional believes about HIV to be a curse is what makes it hard to prevent HIV since they believe that having sex with a virgin is a cure hence spreading HIV
ReplyDeleteFaiza
HIV AIDS is real and it's caused by a virus hence traditional believes are false
ReplyDeletePeople should learn more about Hivand Aids and it's mode of transmission.its upon them to believe or believe witchdoctors.
ReplyDeleteBy Winny c
ReplyDeleteIt is so unfortunate that still people in the rural areas believe that HIV /AIDS can be as a result of witchcraft . They may also think that HIV can cured by their beliefs. In other words, they view HIV /AIDS differently from others who know more about the virus
ReplyDeleteMost people living with HIV and AIDs in rural areas believe that they have been witched.So educated people who are infected with HIV should educate those in rural areas to accept their status and take care of theirselves
ReplyDeleteAt some situation like
ReplyDeleteanalogue communities believe that HIV is caused by a whichcraft. These worsens in a family which based on traditions and as
“traditional” herbal, spiritual, and ritual remedies fail, the pressure on a victim’s kin and
friends to find and neutralize the social source of illness grows. Knowing that someone is responsible for all the misery, which demand justice for the victim.
Many sill believe havibg sex with a virgin ir a chikd will cure HIV which us a myth
ReplyDeleteHIV/AIDS being a spell caused by witchcraft is just a traditional believe, but in modern society, we understand very well that AIDS is caused by a virus which is a tiny micro-organism which invades in a human body and reproduce itself breaking down the immune system of an individual. It has no cure not even witch-doctors can heal it as some individuals believe.
ReplyDeleteSuperstition contributes to misconceptions and the spread of HIV and AIDs In the name of seeking to understand their illness better I. E having sex with a virgin will cleanse or having sex with ababy ,in real sense this only spreads the disease more. Especially African countries should leave these myths behind and face the scientific reality about the pandemic, in order to reduce infections.
ReplyDeleteMARY MUSYOKA
We should educate our community mostly in rural areas, they believe that witchcraft and myths of African traditions towards HIV and AlDS can be still treated.
ReplyDeleteSo we should teach them to learn about HIV And AlDS and know their status,it our duty to try to remove the mentally or believe that witchcraft can not treat HIV and AlDS.
HIV was thought to be a witchcraft disease cause by curses from ancestors but people have know proved that HIV is real and its not a witchcraft
ReplyDelete