British South Africa
The number one reason for the spread of HIV is unprotected sex
However, to understand why this is a common thing, you have to look at the reasoning behind the use of condoms or lack thereof. Many people, in both southern Africa and Nigeria, do not use condoms with those that they “love.” There is an element of false trust associated with this idea. This false trust is an issue because of the prevalence of polygamy in the region. It is not uncommon for men to have many female partners. In fact, in Swaziland, it is not considered adultery for a married man to sleep with other women. This polygamy has existed for many years, long before HIV/AIDS became an issue for the continent. The idea of faithfulness is somewhat out of the window. One cannot assume that every partner they have is going to be faithful. If that was the case, and the members of the group only have sex amongst themselves, HIV would not be an issue.
In some nations, such as Swaziland, condoms are not favorable because they are seen as a promoter of promiscuity and prostitution. This idea in itself is somewhat controversial, due to the presence of polygamy.
In southern Africa, as well as Nigeria, there is a distinct inequality between men and women. Women rely on men for economic stability. In some nations, women are not allowed to get a passport, buy a car, buy property, or open a banking account without the sponsorship of a male. This dependence leads to a fear of independence. Women are often times worried that their partner will drop them if they do not give into his demands. This is often how unprotected sex occurs. If the individual is in a polygamous relationship and is doing this with all his partners, there is a greater risk of HIV transmission if one of the participants has it.
The law in southern African nations also favors men. Women are worried to come out and claim that they are HIV positive because they are worried about the reaction. Men are often favored even when committing crimes against their wives. An example of where this worry stems from is when Gugu Dlamini was beaten to death shortly after coming out as HIV positive. If partners fear letting one another know that they carry the virus, naturally the virus will spread.