HIV Aids prevalence stands at 5.1% as of 2008 in a population of about 18 million inhabitants. Over half a million people walk the streets carrying the HIV virus and with the coming of anti-retro viral drugs for HIV treatment, most people have successfully slowed down viral replication and disease progression. They have gained normal weight and have regained their strength to go back to work.
HIV education has penetrated communities thanks to vigorous and aggressive programs put in place the Government and some Non-Governmental Organization. The awareness that HIV AIDS patients suffer from repeated illnesses and gradual weight loss has been abused and now used as a diagnostic tool within individuals. Faced with a desperate situation or temptations, groups of individuals make decisions as to whether each other maybe positive or not by physically examining for slimness or how constantly seek they become. This is a wrong method of HIV testing and only a medical test from a recognized institution can tell for sure who is HIV positive or not.
With the continuous usage of eye judgment to decipher who is positive or not common risky cultural practices in the villages are still in use after physically diagnosing themselves.
Bush meat Consumption: Hunters in the eastern region of Cameroon hunt down monkeys and chimpanzees for food commonly known as bush meat. The tradition of eating these primates is risky for man as primates harbor similar viruses (e.g. SIV) thought to have jumped to man to become the HIV Virus. Member of this community boast to eat raw meat which in effect predisposes them even more to viruses which could have been avoided by boiling.
Polygamy: Polygamy is a cultural practice still observed by Cameroonians especially in rural communities. One man with more than two wives puts the group at risk if one contracts the HIV virus. Infidelity amongst the wives has been reported amongst 60% of polygamous homes and the percentage is proportional to the number of wives per husband. The more the number of wives, the higher the degree of infidelity in the family and therefore a higher possibility of HIV spread. Cheating is a desperate, secretive act that requires spontaneity and therefore those who indulge in may lack condoms and will base their safety on eye judgment.
Witch doctors and Herbal medicine: Believes in witch doctors is still common in the rural and urban areas in Cameroon. The use of herbal medicine is a second option if not first in some rural areas of Cameroon. They perform acts in various ways but one dangerous act is the use of razor blades to create openings through which they administer their drugs. Entire house holds visit witch doctors to seek for luck or deliverance. The doctor in most cases in the past had one razor as longs as it could still create the openings he wanted to. Using one razor for a month can mean distributing blood contents to as many as 100-300 people. An entire house hold may think they are more careful by coming along with their own razor. HIV prevalence in Cameroon is 5.1% which implies the use of a singly razor to create cuts on a house hold of 20 members is a high chance of transmitting HIV to all of them. If this must be done them it is important to have one razor per person
Scalp Shaving: North West province of Cameroon observes a tradition whereby, the family both internal and extended shaves down to the scalp when an important member is lost. This means using a razor or in some poor homes pieces from a broken bottle. This practice is commonly followed by cuts from which blood can be picked from one person to another. If this must be done, then it is important to have one razor or bottle piece per person.
Female Genital Mutilation: The Ejagham tribe of the South West Province, the Haoussas, Arapshouas in the Northern part of Cameroon illegally practice female genital mutilation. This desperate act is a cultural practice handed down generations and is difficult to led go despite the punishment allocated those who indulge in. In rural areas, the clitoris, the Libia minora or the Libia minora are removed using crude equipments. This process involves bleeding and the usage of the same equipment without proper sterilization predisposes the entire community to HIV infection if it has been used on a carrier.
The above desperate acts are acts done in a rush and will require the fastest decisions as possible to come to them. Therefore people will not think of the consequences as far as HIV is concerned or even if they do they will buy their way through by examining the weight and how often they get seek.
There are many other traditions and customs in Cameroon that predisposes Cameroonians to other conditions like obesity, click here, hepatitis and others.
Traditions and customs in Cameroon that predisposes Cameroonians to other conditions like obesity, http://loss-your-belly-fat.blogspot.com/2010/04/overweightobesity-and-bizarre-cultural.html,.You can also get tips on how to change this predicament for good.
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