Does AIDS Discriminate?
Some Communities Are More Heavily Burdened by AIDS
Although, biologically, AIDS does not discriminate the reality is that some communities have been hit harder by this pandemic.
From a biological perspective, AIDS does not discriminate. Anyone who engages in unsafe sexual and/or drug practices puts themselves at risk of contracting HIV. Unsafe sexual activity and drug use are both common routes of HIV transmission. It only takes a one time lapse in judgment to contract HIV. On a microbiological level, AIDS does not discriminate based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.
However, upon consideration of the HIV/AIDS statistics, it would appear that AIDS is in fact a rampant discriminator. In North America, African-Americans, Hispanics, Aboriginal people, and homosexuals all have a higher proportion of infected individuals as compared to the rest of the population. What these populations all have in common is that they are often marginalized by the larger society. Whether it is due to disparate economic conditions and a lack of access to resources, or a history of societal discrimination and abuse, all of these populations have been made vulnerable.
Although it is true that the transmission of HIV is dependent upon sexual practices and/or drug use, these behaviors do not occur in a vacuum. Behavior is often determined by environment. In heterosexual relationships where there is a heavy power imbalance, women often cannot insist upon the use of condoms during intercourse. In rural or small communities, condoms might not be readily accessible or one must forego confidentiality and anonymity to obtain them. In communities with language barriers, AIDS information may not be readily available.
Once HIV is transmitted, precautions can still be taken to prevent its further spread. Individuals who test positive are more likely to use this information to avoid infecting others. As well, knowledge of a positive HIV status can lead an individual to treatment and counselling which in turn can improve health. However, the same factors which contribute to increasing HIV transmission in certain groups also prove to be a barrier for testing and treatment. Testing and treatment resources may not be readily available in small or impoverished communities. Lack of guaranteed confidentiality can lead to fear of being ostracized by the community and in turn, translate into a lack of action.
AIDS is a very preventable disease and yet the continual new cases of HIV every year and the disproportionate growth of AIDS in some communities in North America speaks volumes about us all. In some significant way, we are all falling short. The underlying issues which are contributing to the spread of AIDS urgently need to be addressed, namely: poverty, lack of resources, gender inequalities, and access to treatment and information. And unfortunately, these factors also contribute to a myriad of other social ills.
