Community narratives about women and HIV risk in 21 high-burden communities in Zambia and South Africa

• DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s143397
• Publication Date: 2017-11-29T00:32:22Z
• Authors: Lario Viljoen; Rhoda Ndubani; Virginia Bond; Janet Seeley; Lindsey Reynolds; Graeme Hoddinott
• Keywords: Vulnerability

Abstract: Public health researchers repeatedly represent women as a group vulnerable to ill health. This has been particularly true in the field of HIV research, where are disproportionately affected by terms disease burden and social effects epidemic. Although have focus many prevention treatment programs, structural barriers implementation these targeted programs persist. In this article we explore how high HIV-burden communities South Africa Zambia engage with concepts “woman” “HIV risk”. The data drawn from participatory storytelling activities completed 604 participants across 78 discussions between December 2012 May 2013. During found that made use core archetypal caricatures “goodness,” “badness,” “vulnerability” when describing women’s risk. Community members shifted categories their characterizations women, they acknowledged multiple roles play, internalized different stories about sometimes register same stories. Findings suggest implementers, consultation community members, should consider positions occupy impacts wider community’s understandings “risk”. approach taking on board complexity risk can inform design care rendering more focused in-line needs. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, gender, vulnerability, beliefs