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Disability
is not Inability |
HIV/ AIDS Prevalence among the Deaf.
10th September 2005
HIV/AIDS is more prevalent among Deaf women than deaf men. Estimates
from deaf community mapping indicates that the level of HIV prevalence
is averages 12% for deaf in general. These figures vary with various
factors including region, economic background and gender.
Prevalence among the deaf in urban centre is the higher with
equal indications in prevalence of STI like syphilis and Chlamydia,
mainly in slum areas. This is mainly due to higher prevalence
among urban slum deaf women and issues of sex for money.
Local policy, cultures and disability-related stigma have not
empowered many deaf leaders to lead in awareness or behaviour
change. There is however better awareness among the urban deaf
population than the rural deaf population. This has however not
translated to behaviour change. Prevalence therefore deviates
according to various factors. There are about 400,000 deaf people
in Kenya. The definition of deaf includes persons of various hearing
impairments.
Urban deaf population experiences a higher prevalence rates than
rural deaf populations. The urban deaf still have low value for
risk behaviour even with the higher awareness that HIV exists.
Many have not built useful prevention of transmission skills like
abstinence and condoms. This translates into high rate of new
infections of HIV/AIDS among the deaf.
Prevalence among the rural deaf communities is defined by Regional
variations. Rural prevalence rates range between 8% to 16%. Lack
of community in the deep rural areas makes it very difficult to
provide services. Here social stigma makes it hard for the deaf
to stand on their own and are managed by their households within
conditions that may make them hard to access deaf friendly services.
Neighbors and family members sexually take advantage of their
disability and many may not know what happened to them is wrong.
Prevalence here is very high mainly attributed to rape and sex
without consent.
The existence of concentrations related to some level of community
organization. Areas where there are more deaf community organizations
have more prevalence levels. The deaf are increasingly organized
outside school environments in many organize welfare and development
activities within theses communities. But this also brings with
it more risky repeated sexual relationships.
Sexual relationships with the general populations or the ‘hearing
populations increase risk mainly through two points. One rape
cases to deaf girls of school going age. Second source of risk
is the high number of prostitution among deaf women. Many deaf
women start to earn a living by soliciting for funds cashing in
on the sympathy for their disability. This however turns risky
when they increasingly get sexual offers in exchange for money.
Soon it’s a thriving business that transcends towns for
the professionals. The life style of the successful turns in more
recruits and role models more deaf women into prostitution.
Many still may not know the difference between VCT and a hospital.
Many do not use hospitals facilities even in urban centers. They
are therefore lowly represented in various tools used to HIV/AIDS
prevalence tools like the Kenya demographic and health survey
(KDHS). It would be important to note that hearing impairment
is a serious communication obstacle affecting access to basic
health services. Over 40 % of the deaf had their sexual experience
at a very young age. Many have grown up knowing it’s normal
to have sex. It is estimated that over 50,000 deaf people are
living with HIV/AIDS. Only slightly above 5,000 have had access
to Deaf VCT as by December 2005. The mobile VCT service is important
in providing access. It is important to build the capacity of
local refer facilities to provide support services for the deaf.
The current wave for more deaf VCT without stronger integration
into health facilities may cause a backlash on deaf eagerness
to know their HIV status.
Transmission of various STI during such sexual activities is
common. Many deaf adults are either need treatment for HIV or
an STI. Most are living with an STI and do not know it is curable
nor have they sought treatment.
The 600,000 figure is a figure generated from community mapping
that shows that over half are supposed to be at various levels
of the education system. The number of orphans is however hard
to define. But using many residential schools it is easy to see
that there are more orphans who are deaf in any average group
of ten children. Orphans who are deaf emerge mainly from three
reasons. Neglect of the child due to single parent pressures.
Abandonment of the deaf child quite common in Eastern, Central
and Nairobi province. Deaf children of single poor woman parent.
Deaf children of whom both parents have died are common in the
Western and Nyanza Province.
Category: Health
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