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Perception
of Men about AIDS in the Townships: Case Study of Kuwamashu Township
Meron A. Okbandrias
Department of Public Health
University Of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN)
Sudafrica
It
has perceived that there is a reluctance of accepting AIDS as sexually
transmitted disease in some part of the society of the black South
Africans as echoed by the president of the country if HIV actually causes
AIDS. This could certainly affect the transmission and treatment of AIDS.
Surely, the socio economic conditions also play crucial role in the
perception of the endemic as myth.
As
men are allowed to have polygamist relationship, their high role in
transmission of the diseases compared to women has never been in doubt.
Hence, the idea that men tend to propagate the diseases more by sleeping
with different women and the being faithful to one partner does threaten
their long held position in the society. The study therefore focused in the men’s perception of
invisibility and strength to HIV/AIDS. I have done extensive one to one
interviews and participated in-group discussion of health and HIV affected
men.
The
study ultimately demonstrates that the disease is ridiculed and
trivialized because it threatens the men’s position in the society and
continue to spread the diseases and HIV compromise the awareness campaign.
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