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

Religions

Magid Kagimu¹  David Guwatudde²  Charles Rwabukwali³  Sarah Kaye¹  Yusuf Walakira¹ 

[1]Islamic Medical Association of Uganda, P. O. Box 2773, Kampala, Uganda

[2]Makerere Univesity School of Public Health, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda

[3] E-Mail:

[4]Department of Sociology, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda

[5] E-Mail:

关键词: inter-religious cooperation;    Muslims;    Christians;    youth;    HIV prevention;    Uganda;   

DOI  :  10.3390/rel2040707

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

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 their cooperation by strengthening within each religious tradition those behaviors and practices that appear helpful in reducing new HIV infections.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.