Men's involvement in HIV prevention in South Africa

Gender inequality and HIV have been described as two major “epidemics” in South Africa. The "epidemics" are closely related. South Africa is the country of the world with the highest number of HIV positive inhabitants (5.6 million out of a total population of 50.4 million). Furthermore South Africa is considered a patriarchal society where masculinity is heavily defined around control over women. This means that men are generally in control of the timing and terms of sexual relations, including decision-making in regards to prevention options. Men’s sexual behaviors are seen as a central reason to HIV spread in South Africa. This includes multiple sexual partners, sexual violations of women and unwillingness to use condoms and thereby transmitting the disease to sexual partners.

In December 2010 I blogged on how I became a fan of the South African national soccer team (after I had watched them play at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town). My newfound interest was not related to the soccer team’s endeavors on the soccer field but rather their involvement as ambassadors of the national South African campaign Brothers for Life. Brothers for Life seeks to create a South African movement of responsible men. Soccer and rugby players and a number of other known and respected South Africans have assigned to the brotherhood of Brothers for life and serve as role models who demonstrate how a real man should behave.  A brother acts responsibly in various areas; he is not violent towards his partner (South Africa rates of gender violence and rape are among the highest in the world), he takes fatherhood seriously and he protects himself and his partner from HIV transmission.

The last couple of months I have studied HIV prevention in South Africa. Through my studies I found out that since the late 90s there is an increased focus on men’s involvement in HIV prevention globally. The idea is to motivate men to actively contribute to the halting the major public health problem of HIV and AIDS. Brothers for Life is an example of such an approach.

Globally women’s empowerment is a major area of focus in the attempt to halt the spread of HIV in women. Women’s rights organizations empower women by e.g. informing them about their rights to decide over their own bodies and women’s programs assist women in generating an income which will help them become less dependent on male partners (and thus become more independent sexually). The disadvantage has been that men have felt threatened by programs that empower women and perceived it as an attack on masculinity and men’s position in society. 

I believe that men’s involvement approaches such as the South African Brothers for Life movement is key if the HIV epidemic of South Africa is to be halted. Brothers for Life seek to redefine the traditional notion of masculinity (defined heavily around control and dominance over women) into a masculinity notion based on responsible behaviors and men treating women with greater respect. Therefore if they succeed in having men taking greater responsibility for the HIV epidemic they may also forge new South African masculinities. Men’s involvement in HIV prevention may thereby also contribute to a general betterment of women’s lives in South Africa.