Chapter 4 Reported risky sexual behaviours
4.4 Factors influencing occurrence of risky sexual behaviours in Mining Communities
4.4.3 Poor knowledge and information on HIV/AIDS issues
Although many respondents in this study felt that there is high awareness about HIV/AIDS or STI issues among people in this area, there still were indications that not many people believe whatever they hear about it. In one interview a respondent mentioned that there are others who do not believe that HIV/AIDS exists. Others even argued that if at all it exists, then it is in urban other than rural areas. Such people also hold as gospel truth, some myths and misconceptions related to STIs and HIV/AIDS which circulate in their areas, most of which perpetrate STIs and HIV/AIDS. In this study, some people were reported to believe that what may be thought to be HIV/AIDS, is witchcraft, while others argued that AIDS can be cured by traditional medicine like any other ordinary disease, as explained by a key respondent in this excerpt;
'You remember that when it comes to the mining industry most of the people that are employed are people from rural areas or other countries, or the homelands. So you find that when they come back from that side, they still have the mentality that HIV or AIDS is caused by witchcraft. They believe that if HIV/AIDS is a disease it can be cured by traditional doctors like any other disease. As such, you can still engage in a promiscuous life ...' (Key Informant, EPRM, Boksburg)
Views and perceptions as expressed above makes many of them get caught up in behaviours and practices that expose them to the risk of HIV/AIDS. Another respondent explained that it is mostly traditional healers or doctors, who reinforce and propagate such information; especially whenever a person seeks treatment for an infection that others suspect could be as a result of HIV infection. The respondent maintained that traditional doctors argue that AIDS is like any other disease, which they could cure. It was further mentioned that people (miners) who visit traditional doctors are in most cases adamant to change their sexual behaviours, for instance using condoms when having sexual intercourse.
With such adamancy some miners even argue that if AIDS is spread through sexual intercourse, then just like all other diseases spread through sex (like gonorrhea and syphilis), it should have some cure. Others even testify that they once got STIs and when they took some herbs from traditional healers, they got cured. As such, HIV/AIDS can as well be cured. Such testimonies were in most cases made by fellow miners who are regarded as well informed in such issues, particularly those that have stayed long on the mines. This mis-information influenced other junior miners to engage in risky sexual behaviours even if they were aware about possible risks that might arise.
In another interview, a respondent reported that it is not only miners who happen to be ignorant concerning HIV/AIDS issues. This respondent argued that even people residing in urban areas, (where HIV/AIDS information is expected to be readily available) do not know much about it.
The interviewee opined that there are many factors which could be attributed to this situation, one of which is how accessible the information is to different groups of people residing in this community.
For instance, if HIV/AIDS information is in written materials and in a more technical form, it is accessible to literate and technical people only. If is relayed through TV and radio drama, such information is limited to those with TVs and radios. If it is relayed through health centers, awareness campaigns, or work place, it becomes available only to those who visit such places and attend such services, while the majority is unable to get it.
'You know most people like those who stay in the hostels come from rural areas, and you know rural people they don't really believe in these things...Besides, not all people read news papers or watch TV, its only the people in towns not in the villages, so most people don't know. Most of them hear about these things when they go to the clinic, when they have STIs, that's when they are told about it and advised'.(Key Informant Interview -Bar manager in Boksburg Central).
AAA Complacency and lack of seriousness
In another interview an office worker from within Boksburg town argued that although it may be perceived that people in this town were already aware about HIV/AIDS, many of them are complacent in their sexual behaviours. The respondent argued that particularly in urban areas, people have normalized the HIV/AIDS pandemic such that they do not take the issue seriously.
'You have to know that there are some people who do not know much about HIV/AIDS. Of course many of them know that there is HIV/AIDS, but you see people just don't want to take it seriously' (Office Worker, Checkers Superstore, Boksburg)
This respondent further opined that this lack of seriousness is influenced by many factors among different groups of people. For instance, some men fail to adjust to the changing realities as regards their sexual lives in view of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. The respondent argued that most men who engage in multiple sexual partnerships or those who do not use condoms during sexual intercourse were born way back in the past, and they cherish olden views some of which influence them to believe that sexual pleasure is achieved with penetrative and unprotected sex only, or that STIs including HIV/AIDS were curable.
As a result of nursing such beliefs, it becomes an uphill battle for them to believe that times have changed and they need to check their risky sexual behaviours, especially in the face of an incurable HIV/AIDS pandemic.
' ... I also think that most men who practice these things, like those who don't like condoms grew up in the era when everything was fine, there were no infections like HIV and that is why they continue doing these things ...it is difficult for them to change now'. (Individual in- depth interview, Office worker, Boksburg town)
Such scenario as reported in the above excerpt has resulted into many men leading complacent lifestyles where among other ills, they have many sexual partners; engage in casual sex, and have unprotected sex. In another interview, a respondent mentioned that with respect to miners, many of the old men who argue that AIDS does not exist or is curable, were known to be adamant when confronted with any messages that rebuke them on risky sexual behaviours. Some of them used sayings and arguments common among miners like the saying that; 'a man is known by how many animals he's killed during hunting', meaning that a man is respected among his peers if he boasts of having slept with many women. Such men were also reported to place more value on penetrative sex, unprotected or 'flesh to flesh' sex, arguing that it offers maximum sexual pleasure. According to this respondents' opinion, it is such beliefs which strengthen complacency, carelessness and a general lack of control in most men's sexual behaviours.
'Some tell you that they slept with a woman without a condom and when you ask them why, they say there was no time for a condom.
They say that whatever happens is fate, because even if you love your woman, they cheat as well so you just have to trust yourself ...' (Individual In-depth Interview, Miner, Cinderella Hostel, Boksburg).
In another interview, a respondent argued that some people make all sorts of unfounded arguments based on wrong information. For instance, some say condoms do not fit them, while others complain that they take long to ejaculate if they use condoms. Some even argued that condoms contain worms which carry the HIV itself.
'There are those that think that using condoms is actually going to make them sick; there are some who say that a condom does not fit them; there are some that say that a condom has got worms...so they can not use them' (Key Informant Interview, ERMP, Boksburg)
Similar views as in the above excerpt were reported among Taxi drivers and vendors where in a related interview, a respondent mentioned that people often argue that the fluid found in condoms is HIV itself. This respondent further mentioned that many of his colleagues argue that condoms are a political move by white people to reduce the population of black people in South Africa, and that is why they are offered free.
'...some say condoms themselves contain the disease itself and that is why they are distributed free. They say it is the whites who put some things in the condoms so that when black people use them they should get it (HIV) and spread it. So people refuse to use them'. (Individual In-depth Interview, Vendor Cinderella Hostel, Boksburg)
Misconceptions as above facilitate occurrence of risky sexual behaviours among people with such views, further scaling up transmission of HIV/AIDS in the area.