A lot of myths around HIV/AIDS could be grouped into three areas, which include racial conspiracy theories, traditional beliefs and religion. But many other beliefs are emerging. While studying these beliefs in several townships around a mining community of Mpumalanga province, Wits University professor of Sociology, David Dickinson, came across what he describes as ‘€œlay theories that are based on common sense and observation’€. For example, he found that people can decide whether to have sex with another by merely looking at that person.

‘€œIf you are fat or you’€™re beautiful or you’€™re not a sex worker or you’€™re educated, this apparently indicates that you’€™re not HIV-positive. A fat person isn’€™t positive because they are not ill and, therefore, they haven’€™t lost weight’€, Professor Dickinson says.

He also found that trusting someone rather than knowing their HIV status also determines who people will choose as sexual partners.            

‘€œOne of the big things we do know is that people whom you trust are safe to have sex with. People feel comfortable after, maybe, even a few weeks or even less’€.

The study found that older women are also considered safer sex partners. There were also ideas about how men can escape HIV infection without using condoms.

‘€œSex with an old woman is safe’€¦ Not based on the fact that she’€™s not HIV-positive, but the idea that she has a loose vagina. There is less friction. Therefore, it’€™s unlikely or less likely that the virus will be transmitted’€.

This idea has led some men to believe that they can escape HIV infection without using condoms.

‘€œThe other myth attached to this is that you can have sex on the second round without a condom. So, the first time you have penetrative sex with a woman in one night, let’€™s say, you should wear a condom because there’€™s higher friction levels. But if you then have a short break and then come back, there’€™s much more lubrication, the vagina’€™s been opened, there’€™s less friction, and, therefore, you don’€™t need to wear a condom’€.  

‘€œThe idea is that the penis sucks up some of the fluid that’€™s there. Early on in the project a myth came up that said coitus interruptus, that is, the man withdrawing and ejaculating outside the woman protects the man. Now, anyone who has got any education in HIV/AIDS does a double take here because it should be coitus interruptus will protect the woman because by not putting the sperm into the woman there’€™s less chance that she would be infected.

But, of course, if you believe in the ‘€˜penis sucks’€™ lay theory, it makes absolute sense because by ejaculating outside the woman you’€™re not going to be sucking up the vaginal fluids that are potentially HIV-positive’€, Professor Dickinson, explains.      

He says the beliefs have a degree of plausibility and it could take a lot of work to disprove them scientifically. The danger is that the more people believe in these lay theories, the more they will stop using condoms.  

‘€œThese AIDS myths are not only plausible within the paradigms that they are used, but they are palatable. They are attractive because you don’€™t have to wear a condom for some of them’€, he says.

 Myths based on Christianity also resurfaced. Dickinson says there are two beliefs that accompany the Christian myth.  

‘€œThe first is that HIV/AIDS is a punishment for sin and the second is that God can cure you. People who have HIV, therefore, may find it very attractive to join a community that believes that God can cure HIV and this has implications’€.

The implications are often deadly. Rev. Gift Moerane, a member of the Gauteng AIDS Council is well aware of the problem.

‘€œThere are some churches that are creating a crisis for us by encouraging people not to take treatment, promising that they will lay hands and, miraculously, people will be healed. It is a fallacy to say when you lay hands on people they will be healed. HIV/AIDS has no cure’€, according to Reverend Moerane        

Mythical beliefs found in Mpumalanga townships are but just an example of what myths possibly exist throughout the country.

‘€œObviously, these myths are part of everyday life. I think if we went to an Indian community or we went to a white community, we would find different HIV/AIDS myths ‘€“ some overlaps and some differences’€, Professor Dickinson says.