Prevalence of myths and false beliefs regarding HIV/AIDS among xhosa community in the transkei region of South Africa

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is one of the main challenges facing South Africa today. It is estimated that of the 39.5 million people living with HIV worldwide in 2006, more than 63% were from sub-Saharan Africa. In 2005, about 5.54 million people were estimated to be living with HIV in South Africa, with 18.8% of the adult population (15-49 years) and about 12% of the general population affected.1 Prevention of HIV infection has to be tackled in various ways, not just to recommend condom use and circumcision. There are several cultural and social factors associated with spread of HIV infection. There is a general belief that illness (HIV/AIDS) and other bad occurrences are related to witchcraft. The illness is difficult for them to believe and to be explained. Infections like HIV cannot be explained to ordinary rural people and therefore there is a strong belief in witchcraft. People believe that HIV/AIDS is related to witchcraft, and could be managed by traditional healers. Poor people are less educated and therefore more ignorant about their illnesses. Most of young deaths where the deceased is sick from a long time were labeled as “Isidliso” otherwise called “black poison”. Almost everybody who is suffering from HIV/AIDS has been taken to a traditional healer before been taken to medical practitioner in town. The widespread rape and forced sexual abuse of children is a serious social and health issue. There are several motives behind this unsocial and unhealthy epidemic, but the most dangerous is the strong belief in a myth of achieving a cure for a person’s HIV/AIDS through sexual intercourse with a virgin.