Political and socio-economic instability: does it have a role in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa?

• Published in: SAHARA J : journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS Research Alliance 2011-06, Vol.8 (2), p.65-73
• Main Authors: Premkumar, Ramaswamy, Tebandeke, Achilles
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology; Adolescent; Adult; Afrique sub-saharienne; Aged; AIDS; Botswana; Botswana - epidemiology; Case studies; Child; cohésion sociale; Collective action; Collective responsibility; Connectivity; connectivité; Economic problems; Epidemics; Epidemics - economics; Epidemics - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health problems; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Incidence; Literature reviews; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Political factors; Political instability; Politics; Poverty; Prem-Achilles hypothesis; Prem-Achilles hypothèse; Prevalence; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social cohesion; Social factors; Social networks; Social problems; Social relations; Social sciences; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic status; South Africa; South Africa - epidemiology; Sub Saharan Africa studies; Sub-Saharan Africa; Uganda; Uganda - epidemiology; Violence; Young Adult; Zimbabwe; Zimbabwe - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1729-0376; 1813-4424; 1813-4424
• DOI: 10.1080/17290376.2011.9724987

Many sub-Saharan African countries are confronted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This article reviews academic literature in the social sciences and health to discover why HIV/AIDS has become an epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa and not in other parts of the world. This was studied by examining the social determinants of diminishment of tradition and social cohesion in terms of political, social and economic problems. Four countries in this region were selected for this case study, namely South Africa, Botswana, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The findings showed that instability in socio-economic and political aspects in these nations was responsible for creating a suitable environment for the spread of HIV/AIDS infection. This paper concludes by using the theories of collective action/responsibility and social cohesion to hypothesise that the breakdown of social ties due to various kinds of conflicts and unrest is one of the main contributors to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.