Social vs biological: Theories on the transmission of AIDS in Africa

Charles W. Hunt

Social Science & Medicine, 1996, vol. 42, issue 9, 1283-1296

Abstract: There are fundamental differences in the epidemiological patterns of AIDS in Africa and the United States. A number of theories have been advanced to explain these differences. These theories may be divided into two basic approaches, theories based upon biological explanations and theories based upon social explanations. Biological based theories include a socio-biological explanation and a natural history explanation. The social theories may be divided into three theories which are historical/materialist in their explanation of AIDS in Africa and one theory which is primarily idealist and cultural in its explanation. The present article critically examines these biological and social theories. It argues that the biological theories lack scientific support, lack sufficient evidential support, have an inequality of cause and effect, and fail to integrate the micro/macro. This article argues that the social theories also have some major difficulties including, in some cases, a failure to integrate the micro/macro and a lack of adequate or sufficient causation to produce the massive epidemic of AIDS in Africa. There are difficulties with the quality of evidence and support for the social theories and more research needs to be conducted, particularly in the form of retrospective studies, to determine the validity of various social theories which attempt to explain the epidemiological patterns of the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

Date: 1996
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