A recent meeting by faith-based organisations called for condom use in the HIV/AIDS prevention care and treatment as a way to free believers from committing two sins. The reverend referred to them as murder and adultery. Effective and consistent condom use prevents one from contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. It also protects women from having unwanted pregnancies that may lead them to practise illegal abortion.
Faith-based organisations need to support HIV/AIDS services by integrating them in their beliefs. They could also supplement the Government’s efforts with messages that reduce immoral tendencies and those that could inculcate behaviour change among believers for effective HIV/AIDS prevention care, treatment and mitigation.
Mixed HIV/AIDS prevention intervention approaches may be the best way forward with the changing trends of HIV. However, it will remain a challenge for one to be freed from the sin of adultery through the use of condoms. Let us promote efficient and consistent condoms use with the right sexual partners.
For scale-up on the use of condom in the country, players in the prevention of HIV care and treatment, must ensure that condoms and knowledge on proper use are available and easily accessed by everyone. HIV testing and counselling should be emphasised and supported by faith-based organisations.
These organisations have a task to challenge the traditional cultural practices that expose believers to HIV infection and re-infection which include wife inheritance. These organisations should preach against the undue expectations society has on women. Traditionally, women are expected to be obedient to men, they should neither question the infidelity of their husbands nor deny them sex. Sex is obligatory for married women and men. Marital rape is real.
There exists little or no communication between spouses about sex. In such circumstances, domestic violence is probable, which may also influence the risk of HIV transmission. All the above is augmented by deteriorating individual behavioural patterns. HIV/AIDS prevention requires an integration of interventions other than promoting one approach.
The writer is a fellow at the Makerere University School of Public Health, CDC-HIV/AIDS Fellow
Faith groups should promote condom use
