Obstacles to local-level AIDS competence in rural Zimbabwe: putting HIV prevention in context

Nhamo, Mercy N., Campbell, Catherine and Gregson, Simon (2010) Obstacles to local-level AIDS competence in rural Zimbabwe: putting HIV prevention in context. AIDS Care, 22 (s2). pp. 1662-1669. ISSN 0954-0121

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Abstract

We explore the wider social context of an HIV-prevention programme in rural Zimbabwe. We make no comment on the programme itself, rather seeking to examine the wider community dynamics into which it was inserted, to highlight how pre-existing social dynamics may have influenced community readiness to derive optimal benefit from the intervention. Using the concept of the AIDS competent community, we analysed 44 interviews and 11 focus groups with local people. Despite high levels of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, there were several ways gender, poverty and low literacy may have undermined its perceived relevance to peoples' lives. Lack of opportunities for dialogue in the social milieu beyond the intervention may have limited opportunities for translating factual AIDS knowledge into action plans, or sharing hidden individual experiences of HIV/AIDS-affected family members or friends, given stigma and denial. The initiative of women and young people to respond effectively to AIDS was limited in a context dominated by adult males. People spoke of HIV/AIDS in a passive and fatalistic way, expecting outsiders to solve the problem. This tendency was exacerbated given the community's previous experiences of HIV/AIDS-related NGOs, which had often regarded local people as unpaid volunteer labour rather than building their capacity to make significant decisions and play leadership roles in health programmes. Despite obstacles, however, there were many potential community strengths and resources. There were high levels of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge. Public denial of HIV/AIDS masked huge reservoirs of private support and kindness to AIDS-affected family and friends. There were many strong community organisations and clubs, potentially forming the springboard for more empowered community responses to HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS programmers should pay greater attention to community readiness for interventions, especially around: (1) identifying and anticipating pre-existing obstacles to programme success and (2) mobilising the social assets that exist, even in contexts of poverty and gender inequality. This article is made available in full text via the publishers website.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/caic20/current
Additional Information:	© 2010 Taylor & Francis. This article is licensed under a Taylor & Francis iOpenAccess Agreement: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/authors_journals_iopenaccess~db=all
Divisions:	LSE Health Psychological and Behavioural Science
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2011 11:02
Last Modified:	11 Dec 2024 23:44
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/32180

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