AIDS in South Africa

Term Paper # 100099

Anthropology > African
History > African
Medical and Health > Public Health Issues

An analysis of the social, cultural and geographical factors in South Africa that impact the prevalence and pattern of AIDS in that nation.

1,014 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the AIDS epidemic in South Africa. It describes the impact of social and cultural influences on the prevalence and pattern of AIDS in the country. It then discusses the combination of common and unique social, cultural and geographical factors that created this significant impact and provides and discusses examples of these factors.

From the Paper:

"In conclusion, due to a combination of common and unique social, cultural, and geographical factors, such as prostitution, high levels of unprotected sex, the mobility of migrant workers, reluctance to discuss issues involving sex, and the low utilization of condoms, AIDS has become an overwhelming, lethal, merciless killer in South Africa.
But there is a slight glimmer of hope shining tentatively through the gloom and despair of the last thirty years."
"The latest studies of the AIDS situation in South Africa indicate that the number of people who became infected with the disease virus decreased for the first time since the epidemic began three decades ago. Health officials are unsure whether the slight decline marks a true turning point in the epidemic or a momentary pause. Nevertheless, the drop raises the possibility that the epidemic may finally begin to stabilize in South Africa."

Sample of Sources Used:

"Aids/HIV in Africa 2005." Aids in Africa. Online. Available: http://www.avert. org/aidsinafrica.htm. 29 October 2006.
Christensen, John. "Scarce Money, Few Drugs, Little Hope." CNN Interactive. Online. Available: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/aids/stories/treatment/. 29 October 2006.
"HIV and AIDS in South Africa." AVERT. Online. Available: http://www.avert. org/aidssouthafrica.htm. 30 October 2006.
Musgrave, Amy. "South Africa: Moves to Bolster Aids Council's Influence." AllAfrica. Online. Available: http://allafrica.com/aids/. 30 October 2006.