Assessment of Socio-Cultural Determinants for the Spread and Prevention Of HIV/Aids in Hamer Woreda, SNNPR
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Date
2003-04
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
HIV/AIDS is primarily perceived as an urban problem. However, the number of
people living with HIV in rural areas is considerable. In rural Ethiopia the current
HIV prevalence is reckoned to be 3.7%. The available literature as well
suggests that about a quarter of the farmers’ report sexual relation with
commercial sex workers in nearby small towns.
The present study had an objective of assessing risks contributing to the
spread, prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in Hamer Woreda, southern
Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-tested interviewer
administered questionnaire with supplemental FGD and IDI.
About 40% of adults in Hamer were found to spend nights in other locations
outside home within the last one month, the commonest reasons for that being
marketing trips to urban centers within and the neighboring woredas. Among
those who spent nights in town, 45.9% reported having had unprotected sex
with local liquor sellers. Other prevailing socio-cultural factors and rituals such
as, pre-marital sexual relation ships, multiple sexual practices, extra-marital
sexual activity, wife inheritance, “Ivangadi”, mass circumcision seem to
contribute to the risky behavioral practices to spread of the HIV virus in the
community. The comprehensive knowledge of the community about HIV/AIDS
was also relatively lower than the recent BSS for pastoralist communities.
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Thus, more extensive health education program through different out lets with
due consideration of the deep-rooted cultural and traditional practices of the
community is forwarded. Moreover, involvement of the community in the
process of bringing about urgent solutions for the prevailing problems is
recommended.
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Assessment of Socio-Cultural Determinants