Disease and Poverty

There is a direct correlation between poverty and disease. Poverty creates a cyclical relationship with disease for vulnerable groups and countries in that it causes people and countries to be hopeless, unaccountable, and irresponsible, which in turn creates the conditions for disease to fester and spread. Thus, from a human behavior perspective, many of the diseases that are causing so much suffering in our world today could be prevented if individuals and governments would be responsible in their behavior.

HOW DISEASE OCCURS

Given the spread of diseases in poor countries, it is necessary to examine how they occur. HIV/AIDS is a good example. Some people, mostly a few evangelical Christians, have suggested that HIV/AIDS is divine punishment to curb promiscuity and homosexuality. There is even an apocalyptic ring to that suggestion, and it says that in the last days incurable diseases will afflict humanity. To some Christians, then, HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases point to the end of the world.

Poverty stands right in front of you

Sexually transmitted disease

HIV/AIDS Support Group in Rural Kenya

To the extent that the medical and scientific community has not yet developed a cure for HIV/AIDS, these Christians may continue to hold their unique perspective on the disease.

Indeed HIV/AIDS is largely a sexually transmitted disease; however, it is not solely the disease of the sexually promiscuous, although such people stand a greater risk of infection. Millions of children have been born with the disease through no fault of their own, while others have contracted the virus through blood transfusion or intravenous needle-sharing with infected persons. What is evident is that HIV/AIDS has emerged as the disease of the poor both in developed and developing nations.

One important factor regarding the spread of AIDS is government intervention and public responsibility. In rich countries, governments spend millions of dollars educating...