Cultural reasons why HIV/AIDS spreads

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While other nations in the world were gripped with terror when the AIDS epidemic hit Africa was silent.  Africa was not only silent publicly but the people themselves were silent as well.  Why would a continent that is seeing this deadly disease spread so quickly and with such devastating affects remain quiet?  The answer lies in the distinct traditional cultures that reside in Africa.  Sex and sexual practices are traditionally not discussed in Africa and the idea of sexual education is not in line with these traditions either.  In sub-saharan Africa this silence, coupled with the large prevalence of extramarital and premarital sexual relations is what has caused the epidemic to reach the levels it has.
The text, Understanding Contemporary Africa, explains the tradition of silence about sex matters a few different ways.  Just like in many areas of America the text states that African's hold the belief that by education youth about sex they are increasing the chances that adolescents will partake in it.  By educating youth on how to protect themselves they could help the future lower their risks of obtaining the virus, but it goes against cultural values to advertise information regarding premarital sex except the lesson of 'do not have it.'  The text also mentions the idea that some African's have that men are programmed to need more sex and therefore extramarital sexual relations are common and quietly accepted among married couples, which also helps to spread the disease.  The final point the text mentions about the cultural issues is that women are of a lower class than men in Africa and especially single women.  In order for these women to survive economically they do turn to sex work, which increases the chances both of them obtaining the disease and of them spreading it.
Another reason I found while doing research, about why the disease spread to the level it has and why it is continually spreading is because of the reproductive traditions in Africa.  Breast feeding is a tradition among many cultures and is also a practice that has taken place for hundreds of years and is proven to increase a child's immunity and strength.  Breast feeding when the mother has HIV or AIDS though passes the disease on to the child.  Breaking this tradition in Africa has been hard because of the traditions and ceremonies associated with childbirth.  The idea that a mother would not breast feed a child is shunned in many cultures and this, coupled with the silence surrounding the disease, means it is still being spread from mother to child even today. (There is much controversy surrounding how many mothers pass HIV to their children though UNICEF statistics state that between 15 and 25 percent of infants get HIV during pregnancy or birth and 15 percent can get it during breast feeding).

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