Important but Neglected Ethical and Cultural Considerations in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS in Malawi

Abstract

Southern African countries have the highest HIV infection rates in the world. In most of the countries in the region, the rate among adults is at least 10%. The fight against HIV/AIDS has mostly been inadequate owing to the lack of proper consideration of ethical and cultural issues. In this article, the authors discuss the ethical and cultural dilemmas concerning HIV/AIDS, with Malawi as a case in point. It is argued that increasing financial resources alone, as exemplified by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria initiative, without proper attention to ethical issues, morals and appropriate legal obligations, are unlikely to reduce the spread of HIV in southern Africa.