Household and community responses to HIV and AIDS in developing countries

Ian Warwick*, Shalini Bharat, Roberto Castro, Rafael Garcia, Melkizedeck T. Leshabari, Anchalee Singhanetra-renard, Peter Aggleton

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Household and community responses to HIV and AIDS are shaped by the contexts in which women, men and children live and socialize. In this study carried out in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, India, Tanzania and Thailand, factors relating to economic resources and gender influenced the forms of care and support made available to people living with HIV and AIDS. Adults and children in poorer households and communities suffered most. Beliefs about sexual transmission were influenced by what was, and was not, thought to be appropriate conduct for men and women. Prevailing gender relations affected what care was provided, by whom, to people living with HIV and AIDS. Future programmes of HIV-related prevention and care should place more stress on the vulnerability of poorer households and women. More attention needs to be paid to investing in, and supporting, those in the informal sector (mostly women) who provide care. Furthermore, the responsibilities of men to appraise their own HIV-related risk and to protect and support their partners should be addressed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)311-328
Number of pages18
JournalCritical Public Health
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 1998
Externally publishedYes

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