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  • Title: AIDS in South Africa: potential decimation on the eve of liberation.
    Author: Toms I.
    Journal: Prog Rep Health Dev South Afr; 1990; ():13-6. PubMed ID: 12284200.
    Abstract:
    With a government that lacks political credibility among its black population, grassroots organizations in South Africa have taken the lead in facing the mounting threat of AIDS. Although no comprehensive data on rate of HIV infection in South Africa exists, one study suggests that the rate of infection is doubling every 8.5 months. Initially a disease among white male gay community, HIV has now begun to spread among the black heterosexual population. One estimate indicates that the number of HIV-positive blacks ranges somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 million people. Some believe that the current massive tuberculosis epidemic currently affecting the black population is related to the AIDS epidemic. What little the government has done to combat AIDS has been ineffective. The gay community has been shunned. And as AIDS has spread through the black community, the government has done little more than dispense free condoms through family planning clinics. But these clinics are distrusted by blacks, since the government's family planning program has attempted to limit the growth of the black population while encouraging the growth of the white population. Only the community- based health sector possess the political credibility necessary to lead the fight against AIDS. The National Progressive Primary Health Care Network has begun devising an AIDS prevention strategy. Regional AIDS committees have begun disseminating information and training community health workers. The author notes that a determined campaign will be needed to end the association of condoms with the government's racist family planning policy. Although South Africa currently faces political turmoil, the author fears that AIDS could turn out to be the bigger threat.
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