Anthropology 703

“ENGAGING MEN IN PREVENTION AND CARE FOR HIV/AIDS IN AFRICA” by

Edward Mills

With regards to HIV and AIDS in Africa it has been made evident that the main focus is on
women and children as being the main carriers of the disease. Women therefore are
considered to be more vulnerable to the disease and are more than likely able to transfer it to
their children in the birth process hence the focus on both women and children. Due to there
being so much attention on women and children there has been less focus on men and they
then intern receive less HIV prevention and treatment programs.

In addition men are then placed in a position where they have sexual power and privilege
over women which is more than likely to contribute to the further spread of the disease by
individuals. In the case of prevention of HIV and aids men have come across as being
negligent in the sense that they are not willing to go for testing, they also view sickness as
being a sign of weakness. Therefore this view has resulted in the general reluctance of
receiving the required care-seeking by men. Such reluctance is said to be related to
masculinity. Such a view is then believed to result in multiple partners, gender violence,
substance abuse and homophobia amongst men.

It has been acknowledged that men especially in African settings are said to be typically the
bread winners in the sense that they bring home the most amount of money. Therefore they
tend to acquire occupations that require them to work far away from home for long periods of
time which place them at greater risk of sexual exposure, drug as well as alcohol use.

Alternatively it has been highlighted that HIV and AIDS has now been the result of
heterosexual relationships which results in both males and females being equally at fault for
the spread of the disease. However there is an issue that cannot be ignored with regards to the
spread of HIV and AIDS in Africa that of which is men that engage in sexual activities with
other men. Making it harder for these individuals to seek treatment due to the fact that
homosexuality being illegal in some states which may result in imprisonment or worst case
scenario death which therefore explains the reluctance of seeking assistance.

In addition studies have shown that due to the reluctance of men to get treatment. They
usually get treatment at a late stage where they are on deaths door suggesting then that men
are more likely to die as compared to women due to the fact that women get more treatment
than men before it is too let therefore prolonging their life. With regards to prevention, is has
been suggested that programs that are integrated in the workplace along with programs that
are said to offer peer education may be successful at engaging African men in HIV testing,
care and treatment. It should be noted that both men and women are severely affected by the
disease therefore there ought to be strategies put into place that involve both the sexes by
funding agencies. Basically there should be programs put into place that of which will benefit
both men and women. The targeting of specific populations for ART treatment will help in
the prevention of the disease spreading to other populations.

To conclude the HIV/AIDS epidemic has been viewed as being gender based in the sense that
women and children are generally viewed as being the main carriers of the disease. This
essay has also pointed out that men generally have a higher mortality rate as compared to
women due to their reluctance with regards to getting medical assistance in times of illness
due to issues of masculinity and so forth. Finally this essay reveals to us that there is a need
of preventative strategies that include both men and women for they are both equally at risk
for contracting the disease.