Jenni Zackeo

Mrs. Andrews

Global Studies

February 3, 2017

A Small Country, a Big Disease

Imagine having a disease that makes your body unable to fight off infection. People who

have human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome dont have to

imagine it, they live it. These diseases are more commonly known as HIV and AIDS. The

scariest part is that they are everywhere, passed through sexual transmission. Africa is filled to

the brim with people infected with this cureless disease. Swaziland, one of the smallest countries

on the continent, has the highest rate of HIV and AIDS in the entire world contaminating

children and adults alike. Not only is the disease running rampant but young kids are exposed to

drugs and sexual violence very early in their life. Sexual violence and drugs are the leading

contributors to the HIV and AIDS epidemic as young children are being sexually assaulted,

young women are supporting themselves financially through sexual relationships, drug use has

skyrocketed and it is all affecting Swaziland in a negative way.

The numbers of HIV and AIDS cases in Swaziland are hard to believe. According to the

World Bank, as of 2013, Swaziland has a population of around 1.25 million people and 220,000

people in Swaziland have HIV/AIDS. 28.8% of adults are living with the disease; this number is

way too high. 3800 people have died HIV related deaths (HIV). Because the disease is

incurable the number just keep increasing and wont decrease until something drastic has been

done. Keep in mind however, that these statistics are only based on those who are aware that they

have the disease. 1 in every 5 people will live their life unaware and undiagnosed. A lot of
numbers come from young adults and teenagers whom have had to turn to their last resort,

prostitution, in order to survive. The youth of Swaziland is going down in flames from HIV and

AIDS, and if we arent careful they will drag us down with them.

As an adult sexual violence is terrifying, but in Swaziland it is perfectly normal for kids

to be raped and sexually abused. Before age 18, a legal adult, one-third of the women in

Swaziland will experience sexual violence (Two-thirds) . The little girls who are just trying to

live their life will be traumatized as they are abused. These girls are young and have their whole

life to look forward to, yet they are being punished for a crime they didnt commit. Children are

being forced to live with a life-threatening disease after being involved in an act they didnt want

to be part of in the first place. Two-thirds -- more than half -- of women aged 18-24 will be

sexually assaulted and likely infected with HIV or AIDS. From infancy to 24 years of age 48.2%

of people will suffer from some kind of sexual violence in Swaziland. Almost half the population

will be left having nightmares before they even turn 25 years old. 60% of Swaziland teens are

forced into their first sexual experiences, and this number is, again, way too high (HIV).

These girls arent the only ones affected by their abuse and infection. The future kids of

Swaziland are just as at risk for HIV as their parents. Both HIV and AIDS can be passed through

mother to child transmission. Mostly every girl who was assaulted as a child will grow up to be a

mother and her own child will be put at risk. HIV and AIDS are both sexually transmitted

diseases -- an STD. They are passed by the swapping of bodily fluids, an exchange that occurs

during a sexual act, or mother to child transmission (Two-thirds) . Sexual violence is an

enormous problem in Swaziland on its own but it increases the amount of people with HIV and

AIDS, creating a bigger and more serious impact on Swaziland

 On the other hand, some young women are putting themselves at risk, simply because

they cant find a job. Unemployment is a huge problem in Swaziland and in order to make a

living, women are turning to prostitution. Prostitution is by dictionary definition, the practice or

occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment. According to the African

Development Bank unemployment rates, Swaziland has an unemployment rate of over 50%.

This means that over half of Swaziland struggles financially and over half of the population

cannot support themselves. But these people need money, you just cant simply live without it.

Young women have started to sell their bodies in order to live. CNN interviewed a young

woman who went by the fake name Nelsie. In this interview she spoke about how she tried really

hard to find a job and when she couldn't she turned to her last resort, being a sex worker. This

has made her feel isolated from the entire world, removing herself from the rest of her family and

society. Throughout the interview she was afraid of what people would think, what they would

overhear about the way her life has turned for the worse. She admitted, Right now I don't feel

that I am a human being. Being a prostitute in Swaziland makes people feel like objects,

unwanted and used. She has been forced into many sexual encounters all because she couldnt

find a job, she has to sleep with 5 to 6 men a day just to eat. This doesnt cover any of the other

expenses for food, just to eat. Not only will this emotionally affect a person and strip them of all

their confidence but it has also left Nelsie HIV positive. She told CNN, I am HIV positive, I

have got HIV by rape, I was raped. While I was not raped I was HIV negative because I did not

like to sleep with a man without a condom. All these women who are hiding in the shadows,

selling their bodies to live are being put at risk for HIV (Eastwood). Throughout the interaction

women are forced to have for financial reasons, they can contract HIV. Unemployment leads

many women to prostitution in turn increasing the rate of people with the disease in Swaziland.
 Drug abuse is also an immense issue in Swaziland. Young children are being exposed to

drugs which is bad enough but to make matters worse it is contributing to the HIV epidemic. One

drug in particular is causing the most trouble, adding to the HIV and AIDS issue. Cocaine is an

intravenous drug that can be injected into veins. It is very dangerous and illegal in Swaziland

(Drugs). The first and most foremost reason cocaine use leads to HIV is because of the

needles. Needles are used to inject the illegal substance into veins. If needles are shared, bodily

fluids could be swapped and HIV or AIDS could be contracted. According to National

Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS (NERCHA), intravenous drug users (IDU)

contribute to the spread of HIV in Swaziland. This supports the idea that cocaine use in

Swaziland is affecting the HIV epidemic. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) agrees,

cocaine increases the rate for HIV due to needle sharing. This drug also does something a little

different. Cocaine actually promotes replication of the HIV virus, this allows the infection to

spread throughout the body quicker. It also affects the AIDS side of the epidemic according to

NIH. NeuroAIDS is a disease associated with AIDS. It leads to memory loss, movement

problems, vision impairments, and other serious issues. The chance of NeuroAIDS is increased

by cocaine use (Cocaine). Cocaine is tearing apart lives in Swaziland. The average lifespan is

49.5 years in Swaziland. Cocaine use shortens this already low rate by 9 years (Cocaine Use).

Drug is the 12th most popular reason of death in Swaziland. Thanks to drugs, topping that list is

HIV and AIDS (Health). HIV and AIDS are the top reasons for deaths in Swaziland and the

drug use is contributing to it.

Not only does HIV affect individuals, it affects Swaziland as a whole. HIV and AIDS

both create stigma, a disgraceful mark made by certain circumstances. People feel shame

because they cannot get medical supplies for the sick, and they cant get a steady income nor
support their families. HIV and AIDS are serious but they are blown out of proportion in

Swaziland. People dont like to share a water glass or even be near a person with the disease in

Swaziland (Swaziland). This makes it very difficult for families to get medical help or hired

for jobs. If people cant get a job then they cant support for their families. It forces many young

women into prostitution which can have devastating results as mentioned previously. Losing a

parent is traumatic for any child and the life expectancy rates are extremely low in Swaziland.

Men are expected to live 50 years and women have 49 year expectancy. HIV and AIDS shorten

these lives by nearly ten years. This is very young to lose a parent in the US the age expectancy

is around 80 years old. Kids are losing both parents way before their parents are expecting to die

and this painful experiences causes many teens to turn to drugs. Drugs are one of the leading

causes of the HIV epidemic as mentioned beforehand. People with HIV and AIDS are unable to

fight infection and are therefore sick more often. Students with the disease have to miss a lot of

classes because they are sick. Thus, education is also being affected. When the children cant get

a proper education they are unable to get a good job and support their family. This harms

Swazilands economy. 80% of people with HIV or AIDS lose half their income. HIV, AIDS and

their causes create a full circle of destruction, tearing apart whilst destroying Swaziland.

In conclusion, Swaziland needs help. Drugs are passing the disease around. Kids are

being raped and infected. Moms and other women are turning to prostitution. The whole country

is going down for this. Every contributor leads to another, thus creating a complete circle.

Swaziland is being devoured by the disease, and it is spreading. Soon, Africa will be consumed.

When will help arrive for these sufferers?

 Ciations

"HIV and AIDS in Swaziland." AVERT. Avert, 5 Jan. 2017. Web. 27 Jan. 2017.

<http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa/swaziland>.

"Global Health - Swaziland." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, 06 Apr. 2015. Web. 27 Jan. 2017.

<https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/countries/swaziland/>.

Eastwood, Victoria. "Sex Worker: I Sleep with Five Men a Day Just to Eat." CNN. Cable

News Network, 19 Oct. 2012. Web. 31 Jan. 2017.

<http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/18/wor ld/africa/swaziland-sex-unemployment-economy>.

"A Traveller's Guide to Swaziland." A Traveller's Guide to Swaziland. N.p., n.d. Web. 01

Feb. 2017. <http://www.visitswazi.com/travelguide/drugs.asp>.

"Why Are Cocaine Users at Risk for Contracting HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis?" Why Are

Cocaine Users at Risk for Contracting HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis? | National Institute on Drug

Abuse (NIDA). National Institute on Drug Abuse, May 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2017.

<https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/cocaine/are-cocaine-abusers-risk-

contracting-hivaids-hepatitis-b-c>.

"Cocaine Use Disorders in Swaziland." Health Grove. Graphiq, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2017.

<http://global-disease-burden.healthgrove.com/l/59628/Cocaine-Use-Disorders-in-Swaziland>.

"HEALTH PROFILE SWAZILAND." World Life Expectancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb.

2017. <http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/swaziland>.