South African Radio Program Examines Infidelity as Underlying Cause of Country’s HIV/AIDS Pandemic, ‘The World’ Reports

"Cheaters," a weekly, reality radio show in South Africa that is loosely based on a U.S. television show with the same name, is a "microcosm" of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country, where HIV primarily is transmitted through unprotected heterosexual sex, "The World" -- a production of BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston -- reported on Wednesday. According to PRI, infidelity "can be fatal" in South Africa, which has more HIV-positive residents than any other country in the world, and an episode of the show in which a woman revealed that she and her fiance are HIV-positive to his two other girlfriends provided a "frightening reminder of the dangers" of the practice. Some listeners say the program encourages fidelity among local residents, who fear getting caught by the program (Costello, "The World," PRI, 5/11).

The complete segment is available online in Windows Media. Photos of "Cheaters" listeners and hosts Prince Tshabalala and Matthew Montshojang also are available online.