The Feminisation of HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean: Delineation of Professional Women as Silent Players in the Carnival Bacchanal

The worldwide feminisation of HIV and AIDS has not left the Caribbean region unscathed. A decade ago, infection rates among West Indian women were 3-6 times higher than those of men. This qualitative study was exploratory in nature; it was designed to understand if the sexual behaviours and practices of professional Caribbean women, ages 25-40 increase their vulnerability to HIV, generally and specifically, during the festive Carnival period. Professional women, as a category, were selected to evaluate whether education influences the application of knowledge on safe sex choices. Emphasis was placed on the Carnival season because statistically, the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases increases right after Carnival; and birth rates are highest nine months post Carnival on an annual basis. Using the islands of Grenada and Trinidad, which are considered to be HIV low and high risk countries respectively, data was collected in the form of participant-observations, stakeholder meetings, interviews and focus groups in the heart of the Carnival periods of July-August 2013 and February-March 2014. It was found that tertiary education does not necessarily influence safe sex decisions among professional women. Caribbean women’s perspectives and attitudes regarding their sexuality and their sense of control over their physical, sexual, mental and emotional well-being are factors that, depending on how they play out, can determine whether or not they contribute to the problem of feminisation of HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean. These social and cultural factors could be used to inform future intervention strategies that target them as a vulnerable population. Also, this research project will play a pivotal role in addressing the gender gaps in much needed research on HIV and AIDS research within the Caribbean community