Volume 11, Number 3 Factors Fueling the HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Africa’s Rural Communities: Implications for Agricultural Extension and Communication1 Robert Agunga, Ph. D, Associate Professor Agricultural Communication Program Department of Human and Community Resource Development The Ohio State University 203 Agricultural Admin. Building, 2120 Fyffe Road Columbus, Ohio 43210 E-mail:
[email protected] Rachna Sundararajan, M.S. Environmental Communications Specialist Innovative Resources Management 2421 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington D.C. 20037 E-mail:
[email protected] Abstract The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causing the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is invading rural farming communities in Africa and posing a great threat to agricultural production and food security in a continent already ravaged by war and famine. AIDS is no longer just a health problem but a concern for agricultural extension workers as well. Therefore, understanding potential factors that may be fueling the spread of the disease, such as, polygamy, illiteracy, and circumcision could help in the development of an extension education curriculum on HIV/AIDS. This article calls on agricultural extension workers, particularly in Africa, to get involved in HIV/AIDS education because the future of agriculture and food security depends heavily on eradicating the pandemic. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Extension Education, Food Security, Small Farmers, Women in Development, Agricultural and Rural Development, and Health Communication 1 Acknowledgments: This study was supported by a grant from the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, USA. Fall 2004 79 Volume 11, Number 3 Introduction Women and children are most affected, HIV/AIDS is something not many accounting for almost 8 million of the 14 people talk about but agricultural extension million AIDS deaths (or roughly 60%).