Post by BelizeanBrownSugar on Jun 1, 2003 15:18:15 GMT -5
This article is not based in Belize but I wanted to post it, it's something to think about also
Housewives at greater risk
BY YOLANDE GYLES, Staff Reporter
JAMAICAN WIVES AND women in stable relationships might want to look more closely at their partnerships.
This, as figures recently released by the Ministry of Health, indicate that HIV/AIDS figures for 2002 were higher among wives and women in stable relationships than in commercial sex workers.
The number of HIV/AIDS cases reported for housewives is 165, compared to 159 prostitutes and exotic dancers.
Lovette Byfield, a Behaviour Change and Communication Programme Specialist in the National HIV/AIDS programme, said that the differing figures can be attributed to the fact that women who are in stable relationships fail to properly assess their risk.
"The fact is that they don't perceive that they are at risk. They have heard the 'use a condom' message but they still don't think that they can be affected by HIV/AIDS," said Byfield.
Byfield's comments were supported by two married women with whom THE WEEKEND STAR spoke. Karen Johnsonsays that she and her husband have been married for six years. When asked if she and her husband used condoms, she responded no. "We are married, why would we use condoms? You do that with a boyfriend not your husband," was her defence.
Trust
Marian Campbell, another married woman, told THE WEEKEND STAR that she trusts her husband. "I trust my husband and he trusts me, so condoms are not necessary in our relationship," Mrs. Campbell said.
When the figures from the Ministry of Health were shown to the women, both expressed shock but said that nothing would change in their relationships with their husbands. Johnson said, "The figures are alarming but they will not change anything between us."
"Well, that is just shocking," was Campbell's response. "But I have nothing to fear, my husband is faithful and I am faithful to him."
It is comments like those and the attitudes that persist that have prompted the Ministry of Health to change their method of imparting their message. According to Byfield, they have decided to place more emphasis on face-to-face meetings. "We have to intensify inter-personal communications. We have community peer educators who are already in place, they are talking to persons, trying to get them to understand that they too are at risk," said Byfield.
"We also intend to teach persons how to bring up using condoms with-their partners in a manner that's non-confrontational. We don't want to disturb relationships, we are just trying to get people to be more careful."
The total number of persons reported with AIDS since the start of the epidemic is 7,027. Of that figure 4,216 are males and 2811 are females. In 2002 580 males and 409 females were reported with AIDS.
Names have been changed by request
Housewives at greater risk
BY YOLANDE GYLES, Staff Reporter
JAMAICAN WIVES AND women in stable relationships might want to look more closely at their partnerships.
This, as figures recently released by the Ministry of Health, indicate that HIV/AIDS figures for 2002 were higher among wives and women in stable relationships than in commercial sex workers.
The number of HIV/AIDS cases reported for housewives is 165, compared to 159 prostitutes and exotic dancers.
Lovette Byfield, a Behaviour Change and Communication Programme Specialist in the National HIV/AIDS programme, said that the differing figures can be attributed to the fact that women who are in stable relationships fail to properly assess their risk.
"The fact is that they don't perceive that they are at risk. They have heard the 'use a condom' message but they still don't think that they can be affected by HIV/AIDS," said Byfield.
Byfield's comments were supported by two married women with whom THE WEEKEND STAR spoke. Karen Johnsonsays that she and her husband have been married for six years. When asked if she and her husband used condoms, she responded no. "We are married, why would we use condoms? You do that with a boyfriend not your husband," was her defence.
Trust
Marian Campbell, another married woman, told THE WEEKEND STAR that she trusts her husband. "I trust my husband and he trusts me, so condoms are not necessary in our relationship," Mrs. Campbell said.
When the figures from the Ministry of Health were shown to the women, both expressed shock but said that nothing would change in their relationships with their husbands. Johnson said, "The figures are alarming but they will not change anything between us."
"Well, that is just shocking," was Campbell's response. "But I have nothing to fear, my husband is faithful and I am faithful to him."
It is comments like those and the attitudes that persist that have prompted the Ministry of Health to change their method of imparting their message. According to Byfield, they have decided to place more emphasis on face-to-face meetings. "We have to intensify inter-personal communications. We have community peer educators who are already in place, they are talking to persons, trying to get them to understand that they too are at risk," said Byfield.
"We also intend to teach persons how to bring up using condoms with-their partners in a manner that's non-confrontational. We don't want to disturb relationships, we are just trying to get people to be more careful."
The total number of persons reported with AIDS since the start of the epidemic is 7,027. Of that figure 4,216 are males and 2811 are females. In 2002 580 males and 409 females were reported with AIDS.
Names have been changed by request