HIV/AIDS: Upsurge in Zimbabwe Suicides Blamed on Stigmatization
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Source: UN Foundation News Wire
1 March 2001
A general upsurge in the suicide rate last year in Zimbabwe is being
blamed in part on the stigmatization people face when diagnosed with
HIV/AIDS. More than half of the suicides last year in Zimbabwe were
committed after the victim was diagnosed HIV-positive, according to a
police spokesperson. With a rate of 2,000 deaths a week from HIV/AIDS
in the country, Zimbabwe's Health Ministry estimates that one in four
adults is infected with HIV -- in a total population of 12.5 million
people. Of a total of 451 suicides last year, 251 were most likely a
result of the stigma attached to having the disease, according to
University of Zimbabwe sociologist Yotamu Chirwa. "HIV-infected peo-
ple feel despondent when their status is made known to them," he
said. University psychiatrist Mohamed Sebit said most of those who
committed suicide were between the ages of 15 and 30. "These are
young people who cannot cope with the social pressures brought about
by HIV," he said. "Failed aspirations and marital problems are the
most resultant issues of this pandemic" (Rodrick Mukumbira, African
Eye News Service/allAfrica.com, 26 Feb).
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Holly Ladd
SatelLife
mailto:hladd@usa.healthnet.org
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