HIV/AIDS
Summary by Alison Ridington, Research Assistant, TSEDEQ
April 2006
Awareness and Quality of Knowledge Regarding HIV/AIDS Among Women in India, Rimjhim M. Aggarwal and Jeffrey J. Rous, J of Development Studies, 42:3, 371-401.
HIV/AIDS is traditionally a private matter; therefore, the free discussion of one's personal infection is unusual. This has frustrated open forums about the infectants. According to this article, the focus of prevention is to create a base of knowledge for women in India. Problematically few countries contain that base. This disease is equally widespread among rural areas and urban populations. Aggarwal and Rous delve into the level of women's core knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS for insight into making future connections with the women.
Approximately 84,000 married women from rural and urban areas in India were surveyed and their lack of HIV/AIDS understanding was significant. Only forty-five percent of women are aware of the disease, and have a base of knowledge, but their knowledge is limited. Between urban and rural women only eighteen percent can correctly identify more than three modes of transmission. "This suggests that the sample women have a superficial understanding of the disease" (376), inferring that women trying to be educated do not comprehend the ways of transmission. Across the board Christian and educated (middle school or above) women were the most knowledgeable about the disease. These women were able to identify the disease as well as its contributing factors. Among the other women, the younger generation and illiterates, knowledge was sparse, and they could not identify the disease or its sources.
Television and radio are the primary sources of media exposure. Through these medium women of the rural and urban communities increase their awareness of HIV and increase their core knowledge. Illiterate and primarily educated women also increase their familiarity through regular listening or watching, but there will be women who do not have access to either medium. In addition, the level of media discussion is limited by traditions and taboos.
Education is key for women to be aware of their health risks and to create a change for their future. Getting Indian women to realize HIV/AIDS is a problem and having them take the steps to slow the spread and formation of the disease for the future is imperative. Developers need to hold clinics and to put their information out to the public in the most efficient but informative way, reaching the people from their standpoint and way of life. Working through the school system is highly effective. Having sex education from the primary level will increase their knowledge and decision making and also impact their parents' choices as they learn from their children.
The greatest challenge lies among the vast numbers of illiterate women. Statistics show that most illiterate women create their core of knowledge through radio and television. Open forums and informal informative sessions are a clear outreach to illiterate and young women. Another strategy is to identify a "go to" person for each community. This would benefit the women that refuse to attend outreaches or women seeking further aid. This "go to" person will seek out women that fear the idea of publicly discussing their sexual decisions. They reach the unreachable by creating a positive social network to keep women aware and informed.Having a "go to" person is working within the tradition of society. Having a knowledgeable Indian facilitates education without intimidation.
Thus, the most effective means to reduce the spread of HIV/IADS among less literate young women in the urban and rural areas of developing countries is one-on-one education. This permits an intimacy in discussion that is not possible thorough media such as radio and television.