HIV/AIDS: A Daily Conversation for Prevention
Every day, HIV/AIDS effects millions of people, especially in Africa, and becomes a theme in everyday discussion even though we do not hear about it. People adapt their behavior to the constant risk of HIV/AIDS infection to decrease their risk of exposure. Today, HIV/AIDS is treatable, allowing people to resume their lives unaffected, but many people still continue to spread the disease, an issue in Malawi. To take on the epidemic in Malawi, everyday citizens were hired to record conversations on HIV/AIDS, which provides insight on the population’s response to HIV/AIDS. Through the journals, we learn about behaviors that spread and prevent HIV/AIDS, providing a new personal perspective, for these …show more content…
Circumcision decreases a person chance of passing infection, yet it is unideal and unethical. Many people refuse circumcision due to personal or religious reasons, and the risk of surgery could cause more damage, risking a person’s life especially as men get older. One man assumed responsibility to force circumcision for prevention, and one journal stated, “Unfortunately the same people went to police to report that Mr. Iweni has circumcised people without being asked to do that therefore all the people who he initiated had wounds” (Chawake, 2006). HIV/AIDS prevention influenced the man’s behavior, which caused him to circumcise boy against their will, and he believed his actions were justified due to the HIV/AIDS outbreak, making it relevant. The prevalence and discussion of HIV/AIDS caused the man to become knowledgeable about male circumcision and HIV/AIDS prevention, for Sarah Koenig even discusses it on the podcast “This American Life.” Koenig talked to Walkins, a sociologist leading the Malawi journals, stating “If it were up to her, she said, she [would] spend every penny of AIDS prevention money on the one new thing that 's been proved effective scientifically, that is on male circumcision” (). This illustrates the influence of circumcision to prevent HIV/AIDS, for even a scholar like Walkins endorses the procedure, possibly influencing the …show more content…
In Malawi, women often enter prostitution due to finances and survival, so they can provide for themselves even though they risk exposure to HIV/AIDS. The benefit outweighs the risk, and the topic of prostitution is discussed multiple times in the Malawi journals. Derek, one of the Malawi journalist, writes “Each prostitute told her sexual partner to use a condom. So these men were speaking to each other that they disliked using a condom during sexual intercourse because a person, especially a man, doesn’t feel comfortable” (). The prostitutes risk losing business by using condoms and making customers angry, but they use condoms due to fear and knowledge of HIV/AIDS, influencing their actions. By using condoms, the prostitutes reduce the likelihood of infecting multiple individuals, decreasing infection, and in the end, it prevents men from infecting their wives and children, innocent victims. By forcing men to use condoms, it greatly influences the spread of
Every day, HIV/AIDS effects millions of people, especially in Africa, and becomes a theme in everyday discussion even though we do not hear about it. People adapt their behavior to the constant risk of HIV/AIDS infection to decrease their risk of exposure. Today, HIV/AIDS is treatable, allowing people to resume their lives unaffected, but many people still continue to spread the disease, an issue in Malawi. To take on the epidemic in Malawi, everyday citizens were hired to record conversations on HIV/AIDS, which provides insight on the population’s response to HIV/AIDS. Through the journals, we learn about behaviors that spread and prevent HIV/AIDS, providing a new personal perspective, for these …show more content…
Circumcision decreases a person chance of passing infection, yet it is unideal and unethical. Many people refuse circumcision due to personal or religious reasons, and the risk of surgery could cause more damage, risking a person’s life especially as men get older. One man assumed responsibility to force circumcision for prevention, and one journal stated, “Unfortunately the same people went to police to report that Mr. Iweni has circumcised people without being asked to do that therefore all the people who he initiated had wounds” (Chawake, 2006). HIV/AIDS prevention influenced the man’s behavior, which caused him to circumcise boy against their will, and he believed his actions were justified due to the HIV/AIDS outbreak, making it relevant. The prevalence and discussion of HIV/AIDS caused the man to become knowledgeable about male circumcision and HIV/AIDS prevention, for Sarah Koenig even discusses it on the podcast “This American Life.” Koenig talked to Walkins, a sociologist leading the Malawi journals, stating “If it were up to her, she said, she [would] spend every penny of AIDS prevention money on the one new thing that 's been proved effective scientifically, that is on male circumcision” (). This illustrates the influence of circumcision to prevent HIV/AIDS, for even a scholar like Walkins endorses the procedure, possibly influencing the …show more content…
In Malawi, women often enter prostitution due to finances and survival, so they can provide for themselves even though they risk exposure to HIV/AIDS. The benefit outweighs the risk, and the topic of prostitution is discussed multiple times in the Malawi journals. Derek, one of the Malawi journalist, writes “Each prostitute told her sexual partner to use a condom. So these men were speaking to each other that they disliked using a condom during sexual intercourse because a person, especially a man, doesn’t feel comfortable” (). The prostitutes risk losing business by using condoms and making customers angry, but they use condoms due to fear and knowledge of HIV/AIDS, influencing their actions. By using condoms, the prostitutes reduce the likelihood of infecting multiple individuals, decreasing infection, and in the end, it prevents men from infecting their wives and children, innocent victims. By forcing men to use condoms, it greatly influences the spread of