The uneven impact of AIDS in a polarized society

Marais, Hein (2007) The uneven impact of AIDS in a polarized society. AIDS 21(suppl3):s21-s29.

Abstract

Literature on the impact of serious AIDS epidemics anticipates severe outcomes, and
places special emphasis on the epidemic’s likely effects on productive and governance
capacities. Implicit in many impact scenarios is the assumption that the effects are
distributed more or less uniformly across society, and are channeled ‘naturally’ through
and across sectors. This article examines evidence of the AIDS epidemic’s impact at
household level, and in the health, education and economic sectors of South Africa. It
shows that the epidemic’s impact is strongly shaped by the highly unequal distribution
of power, entitlement, risk and responsibility in South Africa. The article concludes that
many of the costs associated with the AIDS epidemic are being displaced into the lives,
homes and neighbourhoods of poorer South Africans, especially black African women -
thus deepening poverty trends, as well as reproducing and hardening the polarized
character of South African society. Priority steps to remedy these trends are outlined.