Children, left to be raised by other family members after AIDS caused the death of their parents. As sad as it seems, they are the lucky ones. Some children in Zambia, Africa are left with no one after their parent's death and are forced onto the streets to take care of themselves. AIDS/HIV is infecting one in four of the 9.5 million people in Zambia. Funerals have become a daily ritual and thousands of orphans live on the streets. Zambians have strong traditions and religious beliefs that only contribute to the rapid spread of AIDS.
             The problem is all the greater because Zambians are reluctant to accept that HIV is the cause of all the dying. Survivors prefer to say that family members died form tuberculosis or meningitis, common AIDS related conditions. Physicians encourage euphemism by falsifying death certificated, because they know that honesty means the survivors spouse and children may be shunned, even turned out of their homes. Often the truth is withheld from AIDS patients because they claim it will distress them too much.
             Male promiscuity is accepted, even expected in Zambian culture, which is a contributing factor to the high HIV/AIDS rate. A study has shown that men who tend to have extramarital sex partners are more likely and are therefore apt to contract STDs, including HIV, are more likely to abuse their wives. Therefore, woman in this situation don't have the ability physically or economically to negotiate use of condoms, fidelity, or leave their relationships.
             Woman are likewise often powerless to avoid infecting their own children. Even a baby who manages to avoid contracting HIV in utero or during delivery has about a one in three chance of getting the virus from breast-feeding. Yet women continue to nurse, because formula is expensive, and any mother who feeds her child infant formula is assumed to be HIV positive and risks ostracism. Anti-AIDS drugs such as AZT or nevirapine, which can...