http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/22/hiv-aids-black-african-immigrants-uk


The hidden rise of HIV in the UK

Cultural barriers and lack of outreach services have sent rates of HIV/Aids among black African immigrants soaring

My research in the west Midlands with postgraduate student Betselot Mulugeta, talking to groups of immigrant men and women from the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities, has revealed serious misconceptions about the nature of the HIV/Aids epidemic in the UK. Lack of information tailored for different migrant groups, alongside lower awareness of HIV/Aids through media coverage as a whole, is a problem with real consequences.

Newly reported cases of HIV in the UK are higher than ever before. Between 1995 and 2006, the rate of HIV infection among black Africans in the west Midlands increased 100-fold, compared to a two-fold increase among white people, a three-fold increase among black Caribbeans and a six-fold increase among other mixed ethnic groups (according to the region's strategic health authority figures).

Taking the Ethiopian and Eritrean population as one example: they are predominantly young and single, tend to live alone and are often sexually active. Their culture and language restrict the information available to them. This group therefore represents a reservoir of HIV infection which is both a concern for the immigrant community itself and the host population. As social networks among the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in the west Midlands do not condone or tolerate the discussion of sexual issues, external information networks are crucial in raising awareness of the HIV situation in the west Midlands and reducing stigma and discrimination of those who are HIV-positive.

The respondents in our study said they believed the UK was "civilised" and therefore they could not contract HIV/Aids, that the problem had been left behind in Africa. Some commented that they believed all migrants were screened before being allowed entry, and that drugs were available in the UK that would "cure" Aids. Perhaps most tellingly, interviewees said that Aids wasn't talked about in the UK and no information or warnings were provided, so they had assumed there wasn't a problem. Culturally, condoms are a difficult issue. It is considered unacceptable for either partner in a sexual relationship to ask for a condom to be used, because it's thought to suggest the woman is promiscuous or a prostitute, or that there is a lack of trust between them.

One of the main reasons for this lack of appreciation of the HIV risk environment in the west Midlands appears to be a lack of communication and understanding between HIV-related service providers and immigrant communities. In particular there are very few culturally sensitive outreach sexual health promotion programmes aimed at different immigrant groups from high HIV-prevalence source regions in the west Midlands, with hidden groups such as failed asylum seekers and irregular migrants often ignored.

The ruling by the UK court of appeal earlier this year that refused asylum seekers and other "not ordinary UK residents" are not entitled to free NHS treatment and care is creating a reservoir of HIV infection in the UK. It is these marginalised and often hidden groups, who are highly vulnerable to HIV infection due to their socio-economic situation, that are being denied free medical treatment. Denying unrestricted NHS HIV treatment to this group is a serious public health issue which may well fuel the epidemic in the UK.

There is a desperate need to understand the social context of the disease both in terms of the migrants' region of origin as well as in their new UK communities. The British government is yet to address the steep rise in rates of the disease among heterosexuals and a new Aids awareness campaign targeted at those most at risk of spreading it is imperative. It's a campaign they are reluctant to undertake because of the sensitivities around immigration, race and perceptions of neo-colonialism.

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 67% of global cases of HIV/Aids, but it is dangerous to think of the disease as just an African problem now that we can travel easily between continents. Surely it is time we had another UK national campaign to bring this deadly disease to everybody's attention and to correct the misconceptions both the host and migrant communities have of the HIV/Aids epidemic in the UK.

its caused my ur gay a$$s

its caused my your gay a$$s

What an intelligent, articulate and well educated race you are. And to think that Black people score the lowest out of all the races in I.Q. tests.

NordicRace:

its caused my your gay a$$s

What an intelligent, articulate and well educated race you are. And to think that Black people score the lowest out of all the races in I.Q. tests.

U are just a fustrated human being

British authorities should do better job of screening HIV+ immigrants. It is not all Africans. Nigeria has low HIV/aids rate. The rise is probably due to the huge influx of Zimbabweans, some say up to a million of them live in the UK.

British authorities should do better job of screening HIV+ immigrants. It is not all Africans. Nigeria has low HIV/aids rate. The rise is probably due to the huge influx of Zimbabweans, some say up to a million of them live in the UK.

You are WRONG.

United Nations Report

A recent United Nations report classified Nigeria among the worst HIV hit nations, with nearly five million projected infections. Nigeria an AIDS time bomb? Yes, one can easily conclude this, since the country constitutes a whooping 18% of Africa's population, a continent already besieged with AIDS. Abuja, Lagos, and Enugu are among the hardest hit cities according to reliable sources. The HIV virus is spreading at an alarming rate in these cities among others. Nigeria's HIV epidemic, unabated will have major social and economic mayhem for the country and Africa in general. Infection rates are very high amongst the youngest women, who have resorted to prostitution as a means of employment. This is not surprising to one familiar with Nigeria, where unemployment is unqualifiable. Graduates are turned out, without corresponding industries to absorb them. The country's infrastructure is generally poor, depilated to the extent that only desperate foreign investors would have interest investing in the country. This is not to say that the Obasanjo administration has not done anything to reverse the many years of army misrule of the country. There are lot more tables to overturn to bring the country to a healthy path. These include fighting corruption, and the develoment of the country's infrastructure.

@ Nordicrace

That is shocking. Where did you find this information, could you post source so I can post it elsewhere? I think we should act immediately so our HIV+ population will not grow out of control like it is in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

God bless you for shedding light on this issue.

http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/nationalreports/africa/nigeria/name,3289,en.html

http://mpelembe.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2009/12/1/4394689.html

http://www.avert.org/aids-nigeria.htm

You guys should ignore NordicRace.

He is a white Ra.cist always spewing rubbish here in NL.

Looks like a Nigerian took his white girl friend from him, hence the hatred.



Sorry Nordicrace. Its not our fault that your women prefer us. So you guys can keep fu*king yourselves and keep the hiv aids among yourselves. Foo.l  

NordicRace:

http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/nationalreports/africa/nigeria/name,3289,en.html

http://mpelembe.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2009/12/1/4394689.html

http://www.avert.org/aids-nigeria.htm

Who the hell are you?