HIV/AIDS and culture: making a case for DIPO

Type Conference Paper - "HIV/AIDS and culture: making a case for DIPO" National World AIDS Day Conference
Title HIV/AIDS and culture: making a case for DIPO
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2005
City Miami
Country/State Florida
URL http://works.bepress.com/joseph_ashong/7/
Abstract
Whilst efforts are still on going in search of breakthroughs in the development of treatment or vaccines for HIV/AIDS, it’s very important that we look into our way of life i.e. CULTURE to try to prevent or contain the menace. “DIPO” is a puberty rite performed for females averagely 18yrs and above in the Yilo-Krobo (Somanya) District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. The goal is to keep the virginity of the females intact till they are of age and ready for marriage. A girl is considered a “woman” after going through this rite no matter her age. We looked at the possible positives and negatives of DIPO and other cultural practices in fighting HIV/AIDS in the Yilo-Krobo (Somanya) District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. Key informant interviews, and questionnaires were used for the data collection. Equal numbers of male and female correspondents were used. In total, 146 key informants and correspondents were interviewed. Majority of the respondents’ (66%) said their religious belief is against condom use and thus will not use it. “DIPO” is now performed at a very early age, 100% of females interviewed went through the rite when they were below 14 years of age. Most females in the district start sexual intercourse very early as they go through the puberty rite at very early ages. This makes then more vulnerable to the HIV infection and more importantly at their youthful age.

Related studies

»