CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY OF DIPO PUBERTY RITE AND ITS ASSOCIATED HIV RISKS IN THE LOWER MANYA KROBO MUNICIPALITY IN GHANA

Abstract

Dipo is a puberty rite performed for adolescent girls with an average of 18 years and above into adulthood in Lower Manya Krobo Municipality. Dipo rite inculcates cultural values into the initiates and preserves cultural heritage. However, the reduction in age and nudity associated with the practice could put initiates at high risk of STDs including HIV transmission. The purpose of the study was to examine the cultural sustainability of Dipo and associated HIV risk in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality in Ghana. A purposive sampling technique was used to select participants and interviewed them with the guide of an interview schedule. The findings of the study revealed that risk factors of HIV transmission include cultural, social, individual, and institutional risks. The study also found that cultural sustainability indicators associated with Dipo puberty rites include cultural heritage, vitality, diversity, locality, eco-resilience, and eco-education and civilization. While cultural heritage, vitality, diversity, locality and eco-education, and civilisation were found to sustain Dipo rite, eco-cultural resilience poses a risk of HIV transmission. The implication of this finding is that the performance of Dipo rite is a worthy cultural practice. It is recommended that innovative ways should be adopted to sustain the rite and reduce its associated HIV risk.  Article visualizations: