Gender nuances influencing HIV/AIDS response in South Africa: The case of Alice Town, Eastern Cape

Abstract

Unequivocally, gender nuances are believed to provide a fertile ground for HIV/AIDS proliferation. The article discussed gender nuances influencing HIV/AIDS response in Alice town, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Investigating a sample of 33 participants, with 8 involved in in-depth interviews while 25 participants were involved in 3 focus groups interviews, this study followed a qualitative paradigm, an explorative and a descriptive design, and a case study as a specific design. Findings established that women were more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS than men, though ignorant of their sexual health rights, which motivated their emasculation by men. Moreover, findings revealed that the leniency enjoyed by women in gender empowerment endeavours prompted violence from men. Further, consumption of drugs undermined the response to HIV/AIDS; while child support grants motivated an early sexual debut to teenage mothers, and thereby compromising their HIV/AIDS prevention endeavours. Conclusively, gender nuances need to be addressed if HIV/AIDS will stop being gendered or affecting women more than their male counterparts. This calls for the government and the NGOs to strengthen policies and programmes to educate society on the need to work on and address gender nuances or address the environment that allows their proliferation.