Original Research Article
Year: 2014 | Month: July | Volume: 1 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 16-28
A Study on Influence of Traditional Initiation Practices to Reduce Spread of HIV and AIDS in Chileka, a Rural Area in Blantyre in Malawi
Joseph Chikumbu Njeula
Malawi National AIDS Commission, P.O Box 752, Blantyre, Malawi.
ABSTRACT
The study explored sustainable practices that would be useful in controlling HIV and AIDS without external support. The study aimed at finding factors that influence sexual behaviours in Malawi to be addressed using sustainable community structures to manage HIV and AIDS at low cost to address donor fatigue while preventing HIV and AIDS in the long run with full participation of all players sustainability.
One of cultural aspect is “initiation practice”, a form of education for cultural values, norms and beliefs. Cultural beliefs and practices help to transfer knowledge from generations to generations. The study looked at the influence of initiation practice in transmission of HIV and AIDS as a result of changes of sexual practices because 80% to 85% of HIV and AIDS cases result from risky sexual practices.
Local leaders, youths, men and women in the study area and informants were selected for the study. A combined retrospective and prospective study was conducted in ten (10) villages where initiation is practices as a tradition. A group of 50 elderly men and women including leaders of initiation practices and other local leaders aged between 41 to 70 years, 50 young men and women aged between 18 to 40 years. Data was collected using closed questionnaire for individual interview and open ended questionnaire for Focus Group Discussions.
Local leadership and governments need to understand HIV and AIDS prevention can only be successful through active participation of all societies and their beliefs. Community participation without their beliefs is passive participation where people pretend to participate when they are feeling time wasted. Integration of HIV and AIDS messages in initiation practices with linkage to school curriculum for appropriate age groups and related advocacy campaigns will be more efficient with greater impact that is sustainable and less expensive.
Existing community structures should be recognized and made integral parts of campaigns to prevent HIV infection and transmission using their own beliefs and practices within the confines of their dwelling units. Cultural practices do not need external resources to be transmitted from generations to generations. If ways are identified on how cultural practices can be integrated to HIV and AIDS or HIV and AIDS integrated into cultural practices, developing countries and even donor countries stand to benefit by saving and channel resources to other development needs.