Assessment of Socio-Cultural Determinants for the Spread and Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Hamer Woreda, SNNPR

Altaye, Samuel (2003) Assessment of Socio-Cultural Determinants for the Spread and Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Hamer Woreda, SNNPR. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

[img] PDF (Assessment of Socio-Cultural Determinants for the Spread and Prevention of HIV/AIDS in Hamer Woreda, SNNPR)
SAMUEL ALTAYE.pdf - Accepted Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

Download (442kB) | Request a copy

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.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.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Emmanuel Ndorimana
Date Deposited: 21 Jul 2018 10:07
Last Modified: 21 Jul 2018 10:07
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/7916

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item