The Virgin Cure Myth

Have you ever heard of the “Virgin Cure” for HIV/AIDS?  Everyday in Africa approximately 60 young children are raped because some nut job believes it will cure HIV and/or AIDS.

Currently, there are estimated to be from 4.2 to 4.7 million individuals affected by the pandemic in South Africa and these figures are projected to rise to well in excess of 6 million by the year 2010.  Approximately 1700 new HIV/Aids infections occur daily in Ninety-five percent of new infections occur in developing countries.  HIV kills 3 million people worldwide, 580,000 of them children younger than 15 yrs old.

According to the South African Police Service, 21,000 child rape cases were reported last year.  Although this figure is staggering it is believed that only one in 35 rape cases are actually reported. 

The Virgin Cure myth is not constrained to Africa.  Most developing countries have cultural sects which embrace this perverse belief.  India and Thailand for example, have entrenched the so-called Virgin Cure within its belief systems.  The origin of the Virgin Cure goes has been traced back to 16^th century Europe.  Although this pre-dates HIV infections, sex with a virgin was believed to be a cure for syphilis, gonorrhea, and other sexually transmitted diseases.  Syphilis is fatal in later stages; however, stage I syphilis may have symptoms that disappear on their own.  This natural disappearance may have been falsely attributed to some sicko molesting a child.  The Virgin Cure myth spread massively across the globe post-WWII when the troops headed home. 

This may lead one to the conclusion that South Africa must have an unusually high number of pedophiles in its population given the incidence of sexual violence against children. This may not be the case considering most pedophilic activities are generally premeditated.  It is also important to note that the vast majority of child sexual abuse cases occur within the family, and this most often does not fit reported cases in Africa. 

It is important to distinguish between child and infant rape.  Child rape of children from five years and over occurs all over the world but the rape of infant girls occurs much more often in Africa. Many attribute the belief in the Virgin Cure to South Africa’s political and socio-economic. The motives as to why people rape infants also do not conform to the traditional motives as to why people commit rape. Infant rape does not have the power and sexual motive.

No tags