You are viewing : Vol. 5, Issue 3 Oct - Dec, 2008

Unless you lead a risky life, you cannot contract HIV, right? Wrong!

Angella Nangendo

Many people misguidedly believe that they are not at risk of HIV infection because they are not leading risky lives. Unfortunately this is not true. Times are gone when only ‘High Risk groups’ contracted HIV: anyone and everyone is at risk of HIV infection irrespective of whether they are ‘high risk’ or ‘low risk’. Today people think the risk has become smaller, which makes them complacent. Worldwide infection rates show that HIV is infecting men, women and children of all ages. Steady and casual partners, married and unmarried, youth, children, adults and elderly alike plus millions of people who were not considered to be at risk are now infected. Medical experts agree that elderly people are often among the overlooked yet they can be as vulnerable as the rest.

The media archetype that HIV is more common in the ‘High risk’ group is wrong. People normally considered to be at high risk include sex workers, long-distance truck drivers, bar workers and soldiers among others. There is little reported about the steady worldwide climb of the disease among those generally considered to be at ‘low risk’.

Researchers have noted with alarm that HIV infection is rising among non-typical risk groups such as the married. Today women and girls in particular are increasingly getting infected because of social cultural power imbalance. Men have greater power than women, and the imbalance in power negatively affects women’s abilities to prevent being infected and, once infected, to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Women and girls often face stigma and discrimination that can increase their odds of contracting HIV, or lead to ostracism if they are known carriers of the virus. According to the UNAIDS 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily affected by HIV, accounting for 67% of all people living with HIV and for 75% of AIDS deaths in 2007. Globally, the percentage of women among people living with HIV has remained stable (at 50%) for several years, although women’s share of infections is increasing in several countries. Safe sex messages and condom promotion are effective prevention strategies; however everyone needs to be informed of the mounting evidence that shows that HIV is on the increase outside of the high-risk groups. Many factors such as gender and cultural inequalities, violence, and ignorance contribute to HIV vulnerability experienced by everyone irrespective of whether they are from a high risk or low risk group. Definitions and categorization of risk just perpetuate false stigma and false hope by leading many to believe that they have no concerns for safeguarding their own health. I guess the point I am trying to make here is: Do not lower your guard! What makes you think you cannot contract HIV when babies, innocent as they come, do? As long as you are sexually active (and sometimes even when you are not) you are at risk. Both heterosexuals and homosexuals are being infected. In addition, individuals who are not promiscuous and not drug addicts become infected. A person with just one sexual experience can become infected. Educating the public about the real risk is a better HIV prevention strategy. The question we should ask ourselves is not whether we belong to a group identified as “high-risk”, but whether we do things or are involved in activities that put us at risk such as unsafe and unprotected sex and sharing drug needles and syringes. It could also be as basic as having an unfaithful partner! Staying HIV-negative is each person’s duty and personal responsibility – never drop your guard, and act smart. Prevention is the best way, and only you have the power.