Socio-Cultural Identities, Perceptions of Sexuality/Sexual Behavior and Cultural Contexts as Determinants of HIV and AIDS Prevalence in Southern Africa

Chijioke Uwah,Susan Wright

doi:10.4236/wja.2012.21003

Abstract

This paper attempts to examine the connection between one’s socio cultural setting and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Often, local communities form the contexts within which people negotiate their social and sexual lives and identities. These communities also play a key role in enabling or restraining people from taking control over their health. The paper will try to demonstrate through specific examples that in African societies, sexual behavior is a product of one’s socio-cultural environment and structural contexts and not the cognitive properties of the individual. The article draws from the qualitative study (Focus group sessions, individual interviews) conducted in three high schools in the Boland area of the Western Cape with about 18 learners, 3 Life skills teachers, 3 Performer-Educators on the efficacy of the HIV/AIDS intervention by The Centre for HIV/AIDS Management theatre group based at the University of Stellenbosch. The aim of the study was to ascertain the cultural content of their campaign model as well as their knowledge of the determinants of sex and sexuality of their target areas. Based on the findings of this study, I argue that theatre will achieve greater success in its campaign against HIV/AIDS in South Africa if the designers of the campaign models adopt a more participatory approach, make indigenous culture central to the design of their intervention model and pay closer attention to what Campbell refers to as “community level of analysis” which simply put implies a greater understanding of the target audiences local communities and its determinants of sex and sexuality.

Highlights

According to Hoeken and Swanepoel [1] the estimated prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in South Africa is 10.8% - 11.2% i.e. 4.5 - 5.5 million of the general population, an estimated 2000 new infections daily and 800 HIV/AIDS related deaths per day
Based on the findings of this study, I argue that theatre will achieve greater success in its campaign against HIV/AIDS in South Africa if the designers of the campaign models adopt a more participatory approach, make indigenous culture central to the design of their intervention model and pay closer attention to what Campbell refers to as “community level of analysis” which put implies a greater understanding of the target audiences local communities and its determinants of sex and sexuality
Any intervention that seeks to change behavior must be rooted in the cultural norms of target audience

Summary

Introduction

According to Hoeken and Swanepoel [1] the estimated prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in South Africa is 10.8% - 11.2% i.e. 4.5 - 5.5 million of the general population, an estimated 2000 new infections daily and 800 HIV/AIDS related deaths per day. In Lesotho, people who turned 15 in 2000 have a 74% percent chance of becoming infected before their 50th birthday With all these statistics in mind, and with the knowledge that HIV/AIDS has caused indescribable suffering to millions of people, one wonders as Campbell [2] asks, why people knowingly engage in sexual behavior which could lead to a slow, painful, and premature death and why the best intentioned attempts to stem the tide of the HIV pandemic often have so little impact. 50% and 60% of sexually active youth report never using condoms These scholars ask the same question, “Why is it that the South African youth in the 1990’s continue to practice unsafe sex (as evidenced by the spiraling rates of HIV infection), despite the concerted efforts of educational and HIV educational campaigns to influence their behavior?”

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