1. The Myth of Child Rape as a Cure for HIV/AIDS in Transkei
- 1 January 2003
- journal article
- case report
- Published by SAGE Publications in Medicine, Science and the Law
- Vol. 43 (1) , 85-88
- https://doi.org/10.1258/rsmmsl.43.1.85
Abstract
South Africa has one of the highest cases of HIV/AIDS infection in Africa, and Transkei, a former black homeland, now a part of the Eastern Cape Province, is one locality with a large number of HIV/AIDS sufferers. The unemployment level is very high and crime, including child rape, is very common. This report presents the case of a victim of rape, a nine-year old female child who was brought to the Umtata General Hospital, a victim of the mistaken belief that sex with a virgin will cure an HIV-infected person or AIDS sufferer of his illness. The alleged rapist was an HIV-positive uncle of the child. The myth of the `HIV/AIDS virgin cure' is prevalent in the community. The history, physical examination and laboratory investigations of this case are given. A conclusion is drawn and preventive methods are suggested.Keywords
This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: