Swaziland Reports Higher HIV Prevalence Among Pregnant Women

Shermunda Lawrence
Feb. 20, 2009
2:25pm

A new report in Swaziland reports that 42% of women who are pregnant is infected with HIV. Some people think that the focus should be on why women are getting this virus, not how. People perceived it as it's because of the gender roles women portray. The example that was given was the King of Swaziland. He has at least 13 wives and polygamy is a big issue in this small country in Africa. Women are perceived to keep their gender roles and not fall out of it. "We tend to want to prescribe what a country should do. And we forget that it is less than 80 years since women were given the vote in the UK. So, there are major changes in gender relations in the West (that) we want to happen in a few years. Indeed, it's a matter of life that they do happen in a few short years across Africa," says Alan Whiteside, a professor at a University in Swaziland. Whitesides and his colleagues are promoting ways to help prevent the disease such as male circumcison.
I believe this is a very important issue and should be at top priority. With citizens dying and becoming ill will increase the risks of others becoming infected without protecting themselves. And with women having the right to speak up, I don't think it's right for men practicing polygamy and not getting examine before adding more women. Even though it may be a ritual or tradition, I still think it's wrong.

By Joe DeCapua Washington D.C20 February 2009
http://www.voanews.com/english/Africa/2009-02-20-voa31.cfm