For almost 20 years, different scholars came up with studies suggesting that women with HIV/Aids died faster than men because of their immune systems and rapid viral replication rates. However, new statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that the reverse is true, more males are dying of HIV/Aids when compared with women.
According to the report, there is need for shift in mindset of patients to fight the deadly scourge. “Men don’t respond fast to any issue and take too much time thinking about issues before reaching a conclusion or decision,” the report reads in part.
The statistics which were compiled over a period of five years, show that in 2015, out of the 28,163 people who died as a result of HIV/Aids, 57.8 per cent (16,289) were men while 42.2 per cent (11,874) were women.
However, in that same year, more women died due to sexual and reproductive health issues. They include lack of timely and effective healthcare.
According to the report, women are not afraid to seek medical attention. Males, on the other hand, are said to seek medical attention only when they are ill.
So why are many men dying?
Statistics from the report indicate that non-involvement of men in HIV/Aids initiatives impedes progress in addressing the effects of the pandemic.
The report credits women for joining the fight against the deadly scourge. For example at Taso Mbale, few men show up to utilise their services.
Robert Wandwasi, the Mbale HIV/Aids focal person says about 70 per cent of women are involved compared to 30 per cent males. “The main challenge facing HIV players are that men show very little willingness in sustainability as they prefer initiatives that will benefit them financially,” he says.
He explained that 12 per cent of the boys, 13 per cent of the girls engage in early sex even before they reach the age of 15. On the other hand, 47 per cent of young men and 60 per cent of young women had sex before the age of 18.
Wandwasi believes this number could be lower if parents talked to their children about HIV/Aids.
“This figure is quite big. Parents have to come on board in the fight against the scourge than leaving it to few stakeholders. Parents have a big role to play by talking –counselling their children. Unfortunately, most parents fear to talk about the scourge,” Wandwasi says.
He says HIV/Aids poses a big socio-economic challenge to the country, where the total number of orphans has increased from 223,811 in 1990 to 1,380,261 in 2012 with HIV prevalence standing at 8.7 per cent.
Prone groups
He noted that the most at risk groups with high HIV prevalence in the country include sex workers contributing 33 per cent (54,549), long distance truck drivers with 25 per cent (31,588), armed forces standing between 10-18 per cent (6,500), fishermen stand at 22 per cent (20,000) and homosexuals at 13.7 per cent (10,533).
“We went wrong when we lost our focus on behaviour as the centrepiece of our efforts to turn off the flow of new infections. Uganda become complacent. As a result, we have reverted to the pre-epidemic HIV risky lifestyles,” Wandwasi explained.
Setbacks
Condom usage. According to the National Indicative Survey about nine per cent of the population do not know how to use condoms. This has increased the infection rate by 3.2 per cent. Another setback is the issue of multiple partners.
Supervision. In Mbale town, as Wandwasi points out, mushrooming hostels have contributed greatly to HIV infections amongst teenagers. Most of these are not regulated leaving boarders to behave as they please.
“As district health committee, we have tried to engage hostel owners to address some of these gaps-especially containing student’s movements,” adding that, the district has set up condom dispensers and condom distributors at most hotspot areas.
Stigma. Michael Muyonga, the in charge of social mobilisation, Ministry of Health says the stigma of HIV still persists which in part explains why men do not test.
When asked why men died faster of Aids than women, he says in most cases men test late and start treatment were they are ill.
Myths. He emphasises that myths and perceptions around HIV are the sole reason males hardly test.
Fear of the unknown. Muyonga believes fear and ego as the other reasons men do not test calling for mass sensitisation.
“I think all that is needed is a change of mindset and that can assist in many ways. Men in general don’t respond fast to any issue and take too much time thinking about issues before reaching a conclusion or decision,” he said.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
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