HIV prevalence lower among muslims

ashdoc

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It seems adherance to islamic values lowers the prevalence of HIV.

For several reasons, adherence to Islamic tenets may confer protective benefits against the sexual transmissionof HIV. While Islamic marital codes permit men to marry as many as four wives and divorce relatively easily, potentially increasing the number of lifetime sexual partners—a known risk factor for acquiring HIV , prohibitions against sex outside of marriage may outweigh these risks. If followed, codes against sex outside marriage for both males and females could reduce premarital and extramarital sex as well as reduce sexual activity with commercial sex workers. Prohibitions against homosexual sex could reduce the risks of, for example, unprotected anal sex. Islam also prohibits the consumption of alcohol. By increasing risky sexual behaviour, including reduced use of condoms , alcohol consumption may favour higher rates of sexually transmitted HIV. Islamic attention to ritual washing could increase penile hygiene, lessening the risk of STD transmission . Lastly, circumcision has been identified as a practice apparently decreasing HIV transmission . Because all Muslims should be circumcised, this practice may also reduce the acquisition of HIV. For these reasons, we may expect Islamic religious affiliation to be negatively associated with HIV. If adherence to tenets constraining sexuality distinguishes Muslims from members of other religious groups, or Islamic practices systematically differ from those of other religions (e.g., circumcision), then we may also find that there is a stronger, inverse relationship between HIV and Islam compared with HIV and other religions
The hypothesis that Islamic religious affiliation is negatively associated with HIV seropositivity is generally supported. The percentage of Muslims negatively and significantly predicted the prevalence of HIV among sub-Saharan African countries. Six of seven studies enabling within-population comparisons revealed lower HIV prevalence among Muslims.
http://www.heart-intl.net/HEART/120104/HIVandIslamHIVprevaleMuslims.pdf
 
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Yusuf

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Well yeah I would agree with that. Sex outside marriage is termed as Zinah and also homosexual activity is so barred in Islam. So it could be one of the reasons for lower HIV infections in the Muslim world if it's true at all. It's also would apply to India as a whole where sex outside marriage till not a long time ago and still dominantly is considered a taboo a d reflected badly on ones character. Not that it does not happen and not that all Muslim men or women don't have sex outside marriage, but still it still is a dominant system even now. India may have large numbers in terms of absolute figures of HIV, but as a percentage of population it still is quite less.
 

Anil Sankar

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I thought Affrican countries have the highes HIV rate, and most of them are.........
 

Yusuf

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I thought Affrican countries have the highes HIV rate, and most of them are.........
Northern Africa only is muslim dominated. Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Sudan. Most HIV cases are in central and southern africa. South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS.
 

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