Inter-religious Cooperation for HIV Prevention in Uganda: A Study among Muslim and Christian Youth in Wakiso District

Abstract

Inter-religious cooperation has been recommended to address various issues for the common good. Muslims and Christians in Uganda are working together on HIV prevention in this spirit. A study was done to compare HIV prevalence and HIV-risk behaviors between Muslims and Christians. A total of 2,933 Christian and 1,224 Muslim youth between 15-24 years were interviewed and tested for HIV. The HIV prevalence was significantly lower among Muslims (2%) compared to Christians (4%). Muslims were more likely to be circumcised, avoid drinking alcohol and avoid having first sex before 18 years. These behaviors which may have led to lower HIV infections among Muslims are derived from Islamic teachings. Muslim religious leaders need to continue to emphasize these teachings. Christian religious leaders may need to consider strengthening similar teachings from their faith tradition to reduce new HIV infections among their communities. Muslims and Christians working together as good neighbors, in the spirit of inter-religious cooperation, can generate evidence-based data that may assist them to improve their HIV prevention interventions. By sharing these data each community is likely to benefit from OPEN ACCESSReligions 2011, 2 708 their cooperation by strengthening within each religious tradition those behaviors and practices that appear helpful in reducing new HIV infections.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Organization of Religious Behaviour in Different Christian Denominations in Poland

“…The literature on the attitude of the Churches to the HIV pandemic focuses primarily on the cooperation between Churches and religions, and on the activities undertaken by individual Churches to prevent the development of the pandemic. Namely, it presents how Churches and religious communities in various countries took actions to help people affected by HIV and indicates educational activities in this regard (Bouten 1996;Schmid 2002;Bate 2003;Pillay 2003;Marshall and Taylor 2006;Makahamadze and Sibanda 2008;Galvao et al 2008;Mboya 2010;Murray et al 2011;Murage 2011;Kagimu et al 2011;Ndlovu 2013;Bello 2015;Iyakaremye 2015;Kagema and Mathai 2018;Mathai et al 2018, Mpoufu 2015. In some texts, attempts were made to indicate a religious and ethical explanation for the appearance of the phenomenon itself (Phiri 2004;Ramirez-Johnson and Hernandez 2005).…”

The Role of Religious Leaders On The Use of HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategies Among Young People (15-24) in Lira District, Uganda

“…Over the years, efforts have been made to involve religious leaders in addressing issues related to HIV/AIDs. For example, an inter-religious project that provides training for religious leaders with scienti c information supported by both Muslim and Christian faith teachings was piloted in 1995 and has evolved to address several HIV-related community needs [25]. However, according to some religious leaders in our qualitative results, their role was limited by a lack of training, inadequate equipment and facilitation to carry out HIV prevention programs.…”

“…Furthermore, religious leaders have been accused of spreading false information; for example, making claims that prayers can heal HIV [22,23] and unhealthy attitudes and behaviors create a barrier to prevention success among young people [24]. Among some religious leaders, HIV/AIDS is considered God's punishment for sins such as being sexually promiscuous [25]. This implies that some religious leaders simply do not have the requisite knowledge of HIV/AIDS and its prevention.…”

“…Younger people whose religious leaders preached about abstinence and delity were 35.6 times more likely to use HIV prevention strategies compared to those who were not. Preaching is likely to result in more religiously enhanced behaviors that are bene cial to HIV prevention and lead to a constructive reduction in HIV spread and lower HIV prevalence [25,[31][32][33]. This is because abstinence and delity are rooted in most religious beliefs, and such values have the potential to lower the risk of HIV acquisition.…”

Evangelicalism in Uganda: Implications for Public Health and Bioethics

“…Although a number of churches have joined forces in an effort to reduce HIV transmission (Kagimu, Guwatudde, Rwabukwali, Kaye, Walakira, and Ainomugisha, 2011), others have acted in ways clearly detrimental to public health. As noted above, Apostle Deo Balabyekubo claimed to have brought about the cure of AIDS for more than 100 people through healing crusades during 1994 and 1995.…”