Although changing in size, structure and function, the African family has persistently maintained its place as the central human social unit. Beyond the traditional African family--whether in the nuclear or the extended form--is a network of people, most of whom are connected by kin or blood relationships, termed the clanship system. Patterns of family treatment and care are deeply embedded in this wider kinship system. The AIDS epidemic has caused adverse psychosocial and economic consequences leading to change in the family structure, and thus disturbed the capacity of the nuclear and extended family to respond to the needs of members afflicted by HIV and AIDS. Hence, the clanship system could become the locus of AIDS activity designed to ensure the well-being and continuity of the family where its leadership undertakes to sustain, to reorganize, or to create wholly new families or structures among populations being devastated by AIDS. New associations based on common emotional bonds of caring beyond kinship ties will be necessary to support some vulnerable members. However, for such to prove durable in the troubled socio-economic context of Sub-Saharan Africa, these will need strong links to or derive their legitimacy from the resilient traditional social network, the African kinship system.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1993

AIDS and the urban family: its impact in Kampala, Uganda.

Twenty-two families with one or more adult members with AIDS were extensively interviewed about sociodemographic variables, knowledge of AIDS, responses to AIDS, material needs, psychological state and perception of stigma. A total of 24 individuals were enrolled. Seven subjects did not permit contact with family members. Of the 24 subjects, four denied that they have AIDS, four informed everyone in the household of the AIDS diagnosis, eight told no one at all, and eight told some of their family. Subjects reportedly did not tell their family because the family would worry, they feared rejection, it is none of their business or they wouldn't understand. Family members expressed fear of loss, shock and disbelief at the diagnosis, but did not reject the subject or fear infection. Persons with AIDS and their families expressed fear of rejection from those outside the household due to the perceived stigma associated with AIDS. The labelling of someone as having AIDS relates to their physical condition, so with declining health, subjects and their families may avoid outside contacts. A direct impact of AIDS is to diminish mobility, decreasing available economic resources. These data indicate the importance of assisting families responsible for caring for AIDS patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1993

African families and AIDS: context, reactions and potential interventions.

This paper reviews publications and research reports on how sub-Saharan African families have been affected by, and reacted to, the AIDS epidemic. The nature of the African family and its variation across the regions is shown to be basic to both an understanding of how the epidemic spread and of its impact. The volume of good social science research undertaken until now on the disease in Africa is shown to be extremely small relative to the need.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1991

AIDS and the social side of health.

The presence of AIDS in epidemic proportions in the African context can directly and indirectly affect the health of the majority of people. AIDS highlights the social side of health, those factors of a social nature that enhances or potentially weakens the health status of individuals and whole communities. Attention solely on a limited range of social behaviors or health activities may obscure this fact with the consequence that the spread of HIV/AIDS is not controlled. Focus is turned in this paper to the stress in AIDS policies and programs on terminal illness more than on terminal life. This approach, if not altered, can increase the vulnerability of persons who live with AIDS. The influence that the subordination of women exerts on the spread of HIV infection calls into question the traditions of male sexuality. The adverse effects of HIV on the health of men as well as women suggest the urgent need for re-assessment of the concepts of maleness held in the region. Change in male attitudes and behavior may require change in legislation and a resocialization to a new orientation in male/female relationship. The health of family members may be endangered because of the demands of the care-giving role. Traditional community mechanisms for coping with illnesses may be inadequate in the face of an epidemic. Rather than the pursuit of strategies to assist categories of selected persons, such as widows or orphans, whole affected communities will need to be approached as weakened families. It is questioned whether the health care system can adequately respond to the health requirements of the many when resources are drained, health care providers are overburdened, and primary health care is fragmented because of AIDS. The social dimension of health makes it imperative that policy and program measures to stop AIDS be a collective, balanced social and biomedical scientific effort.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1989

AIDS: methodological problems in studying its prevention and spread.

This paper outlines some problems in conducting AIDS research in developing countries, discusses the impact of the socio-cultural setting on study efforts, and emphasizes the need for adopting methodological approaches that are highly sensitive to the environment. The importance of seeing AIDS as a disease that affects humans not merely biologically, but also socially--in terms of their conceptions of sexual behavior and their belief systems of disease, illness and sickness--is considered. The potential of scientists to disregard this facet in the study of AIDS is stressed. The imperatives for interdisciplinary collaboration between the medical and social scientists are examined to argue that without combining research agendas, significant variables will be ignored in the search for ways to control AIDS. Special attention is given to the limitations of several methods that are employed by medical and social science researchers, including research designs, sampling, data collection and analysis, to suggest that with AIDS research these may be difficult to operationalize. The ethical implications of some of these are weighed. The interaction of economic and political conditions of the context with research activity is explored. Suggestions are given which take cognizance of the fact that it is human beings and Third World conditions, as well as the complexities of HIV and AIDS, that make AIDS research so problematic.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Issues and challenges in female-controlled prevention: an overview.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗