Résumé : A review of literature on sub-Saharan Africa shows AIDS to be intimately linked to prevailing social conditions, and not exclusively a medical and health problem. Poverty, underdevelopment, and socioeconomic characteristics of populations may be critical determinants of HIV transmission. The social side of health and HIV/AIDS prevention is, however, largely ignored in developing and implementing programs to fight AIDS. Collaboration between health professionals and social scientists should be fostered and intensified. Failure to focus such collaborative efforts against both sides of the epidemic will result in a continued uncontrolled epidemic spread of HIV in some populations. Strategies and idea are proffered on the sociocultural side of AIDS prevention. Among suggestions and issues, AIDS policies and programs should focus upon a notion of care for persons with HIV/AIDS (PWA) for the duration of their terminal lives, and not dwell upon the concept of terminal illness. Regional concepts and traditions of maleness and male sexuality should be reassessed and altered in the attempt to reduce women's subordination and the associated higher risk of HIV transmission. Within the family and household, the demands of care-giving to PWAs may endanger the overall health and well-being of family members, effectively surpassing the traditional coping abilities of communities. Interventions may, therefore, need reorientation to address entire communities as groups of weakened families. Whole health care systems may also suffer inadequate resources, overburdened health providers, and fragmented primary health care. Policy and programs should foster a collective, balanced social and biomedical approach against HIV/AIDS.
Notes : English
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