Marseille 2007
| Abstract #45 - The HIV/AIDS Socio-Econiomic Paradox: The Negative Effects | ||||
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Session: 26.64: Posters B (Poster) on Tuesday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Mr Frederick Lawrence Okello - Elderly Home Care Tanzania, Tanzania, United Republic Of |
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| Aim: To study the level of awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention and management and poverty levels among older people among the rural and urban commnunities of Tanzania | ||||
| Method / Issue: II Project Description I conducted a study for Elderly Home Care, Tanzania in a few sampled areas includiung Arusha, Manyara and Kilimanjaro Regions (Provinces). The main objective of the study was to identify older people providing care to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) including HIV/AIDS orphans. Data on their levels of awareness in HIV/AIDS prevention and management, as well as knowledge of home based care were collected. The survey covered eight districts in the three regions. Sexual behaviour patterns and the number of sexual partners were studied. | ||||
| Results / Comments: In Namanga, Monduli and Longido Districts in Arusha Region revealed over 36 per cent ignorance of HIV/AIDS, especially among the rural Masai | ||||
| Discussion: Awareness: Most HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives do not target older persons. They are assumed to be above the sexually active age bracket. Total lack of education, information and knowledge on HIV/AIDS renders older people more vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS infection as a result of caring for infected orphans or sexual contact with young brides or newly inherited wives. Some culturally acceptable practices like polygamy and siring children for an infertile brother or cousin are commonplace in Eastern Africa. Older men marry younger brides in their old age. these practices promote Socio-economic Impact: In recent times, the impact of edxtreme economic hardships, urbanisation, globalisation and growth of diseases such as HIV/AIDS has damaged the social fabric and resulted in a rapid increase in the numbers of marginalised groups including the older people, as well as the orphans that they support. The caring role of the older people leaves them with no time to engage in income generating activitie. without any source of livelihood, older people find it difficult to feed themselves and their dependants. | ||||
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