Campbell 1

Introduction & Country

The topic for this research paper is the impact of religion and its influence on HIV/AIDS
virus prevention, along with the controversial preventative measures through contraceptives and
the conflicts that may hinder organizations from making a real impact in Africa in contrast to the
United States. Reportedly many in Africa had been suffering from what they called slim
disease decades before the first discovery in the United States in 1981; documented as
Pneumocystis Carinii in Los Angeles (Dryer, 2014).
Stigmas have plagued this virus mainly due to misinformation and discrimination in part
due to the naming of this disease in 1982 as GRID (Gay-related immune deficiency). This further
widened the gap between people living with HIV/AIDS and religious organization viewing this
virus as judgment for their sins, especially in the United States (Dryer, 2014).
Two Disciplines
The two disciplines I will focus on are religious studies and sociology, these disciplines
are relevant because they are critical in exploring the following: an explanation of the patterns of
HIV transmission, the collective experience of people living with HIV/AIDS and how their
religious background impacts them as an individual and how they are treated within their
community/society, the trajectory of HIV/AIDS in both Africa and the United States, and the
societal impact on the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Dryer, 2014).
Annotations
Sutton, M., & Parks, C. (2013). HIV/AIDS Prevention, Faith, and Spirituality among
Black/African American and Latino Communities in the United States: Strengthening Scientific

Campbell 2

Faith-Based Efforts to Shift the Course of the Epidemic and Reduce HIV-Related Health
Disparities. Journal Of Religion & Health, 52(2), 514-530. doi:10.1007/s10943-011-9499-z
In the United States Latinos and Black/African Americans are disproportionately affected
by HIV/AIDS in comparisons to white non-Hispanic whites (Sutton & Park, 2013). Latinos and
Black/African American are also more likely to adhere to faith and religious affiliations
compared to non-Hispanic whites (Sutton & Park, 2013).
In this study provided by members of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National
Centers for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the National HIV/AIDS Strategy sought to identify the vital role of faith leaders and
their institutions and how they strive to reduce this virus by doing the following: promoting nonjudgmental support for both people at risk of getting HIV/AIDS and persons living with
HIV/AIDS, as well as addressing health disparities (Sutton & Park, 2013).
Faith-based HIV/AIDS preventions and efforts play a vital role in delivering information
and services to highly affected Latino and Black/African American communities (Sutton & Park,
2013).

Morgan, R., Green, A., & Boesten, J. (2013). Aligning faith-based and national HIV/AIDS
prevention responses? Factors influencing the HIV/AIDS prevention policy process and response
of faith-based NGOs in Tanzania. Health Policy And Planning, 29(3), 313-322.
In Africa faith-based organizations mitigate and prevent HIV/AIDS, even through this
has been a long standing tradition, it has not been met without out controversy in recent years
(Morgan, Green, & Boesten, 2013). This is in part due to HIV/AIDS promotion of contraceptives
such as condoms to prevent the transmission of this virus, this idea comes with rejections from

Campbell 3

faith-based organizations, which negatively influences and conflicts with prevention measures
put forth by national HIV/AIDS organization (Morgan, Green, & Boesten, 2013). This article
examines the influences of three faith-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Muslim,
Catholic, and Anglican, effects on HIV/AIDS preventions and their policies (Morgan, Green, &
Boesten, 2013).
An analysis of how each organizations response to HIV/AIDS prevention and
understanding how faith-based organizations influences policies around preventions and how
that translates to the community (Morgan, Green, & Boesten, 2013). The goal is to have the
ability to better identity what works with FBOs to meet the needs of preventing HIV/AIDS and
improving the role of FBOs as it concerns to fighting against the virus without conflicting with
HIV/AIDS organization (Morgan, Green, & Boesten, 2013).

Dyer, J. E. (2014). The politics of Evangelicals: how the issues of HIV and AIDS in Africa
shaped a 'centrist' constituency in the United States. Journal Of The American Academy Of
Religion, 82(4), 1010-1032. doi:10.1093/jaarel/lfu041
This article is from the perceptive of a Weberian Sociologist of who argued that the
leaders of evangelical movement should embrace more liberal issues such as HIV/AIDS (Dyer,
2014). The HIV/AIDS virus is most nobly contracted due to lifestyle choices that are deemed
sinful by those on the religious right; this thought process helped to further stigmatize this
virus and those that are living with the HIV/AIDS virus (Dyer, 2014). The virus ties to drug users
and male to male homosexuality, caused many to shun this virus, excommunicating and labeling
many infected within Americas population (Dyer, 2014).

Campbell 4

Sociologist Steve Bruce and Religious historian Walter Capps and many others worked
to transform American culture and disband methods about this virus, with support from religious
institutions and leaders to combat misinformation and anxiety within many communities about
HIV/AIDS, many living with this virus have found a renewed purpose in life through meaningful
dialogue (Dyer, 2014).

Adams, J. (2015). AIDS in Africa. Contemporary Sociology, (5), 591.

Relatively early sociological disciplines have contributed to our understanding of this
virus in Africa and such factors as stigmas and social inequalities (Adams, 2015). Sociology and
reciprocal relationships continue to shape explanations of HIV/AIDS, and its progression from
HIV infections to full blown AIDS in Africa (Adams, 2015).
HIV transmission predominately occurs through heterosexual transactional sex, in
communities where womens religiosity is higher there are lower incidences of HIV infection
and in communities where mens religiosity was higher HIV incidences are also higher (Adams,
2015). These finding show that religion is an important factor and is key to help shape HIV risk
environments (Adams, 2015).

Reference
Dyer, J. E. (2014). The politics of Evangelicals: how the issues of HIV and AIDS in Africa
shaped a 'centrist' constituency in the United States. Journal Of The American Academy Of
Religion, 82(4), 1010-1032. doi:10.1093/jaarel/lfu041