SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HIV/AIDS PROGRAMMES

SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HIV/AIDS PROGRAMMES-AN
APPRAISAL
by
-Dr.Alok Chantia-Lecturer, Anthropology, Sri J.N.P.G. College, Lucknow
-Dr.Preeti Misra-Lecturer, Dept.of Human Rights, School for Legal studies, Babasaheb
Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow
Keywords-HIV/AIDS, gender, sex ratio, acculturation, awareness
Abstract:
Man created culture for his smooth survival, but every culture has its limits beyond
which it cannot provide for its people, and this leads to process of acculturation.
Acculturation has also contributed to the growth of HIV/AIDS. In present world
HIV/AIDS is the most dreaded disease, which has put humanity in danger. Social science
has not only contributed a lot in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS but has also
aggravated the problem of HIV/AIDS. Gender studies reflect many socio-cultural
problems of women , decreasing sex ratio is one of them , which is alarming for the
existence of human beings. Today HIV/AIDS is studied under sexual behaviour mainly
but it is based on multiple sexual behaviour. Presently sex ratio is 933 women per1000
men as per 2001 census report, which is against the natural hypothesis of 1:1 sex ratio.
The decreasing number of women is accelerating the process of multiple sexual
behaviour, which has ultimately led to increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases. Domestic
violence is again manifesting itself in unsafe sexual relations outside the marital ties. In
the present paper an attempt has been made to analyse the disintegration of marriage
institution, family and kinship due to awareness of HIV/AIDS progammes .HIV/AIDS
programmes are not only working as awareness agents but also facilitating pre and extra
marital sexual relations causing serious deviations in various societal institutions which
are vital for human existence. Present paper also examines whether acculturation has
aggravated HIV/AIDS problem? Whether HIV/AIDS is responsible for declining sex
ratio? Whether HIV/AIDS programmes have led to more liberal, open and free sex
society? In the last, it is suggested how social science can play a more positive and
concrete role in preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS.