Healing Culture, Healing AIDS A Review of some African Cultural and Religious Beliefs and Practices in Contexts of HIV and AIDS
Main Article Content
Keywords
HIV and AIDS, ethno-cultural and religious beliefs, healing
Abstract
This essay sees culture as a two-edged sword in HIV and AIDS response. It argues that while scholarly attention has mainly been on how certain cultural practices facilitate the spread of HIV and stand in the way of prevention, treatment and care, there are some ethno-cultural and religious beliefs and practices that can be used for positive HIV and AIDS response. The essay thus identifies and discusses some ethno-cultural and religious factors that contribute to the spread of HIV with the aim of ‘healing’ those that fuel the spread of HIV and promoting those that can be used for positive response.
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References
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Berner-Rodoreda, Astrid, HIV and AIDS in Africa: A female epidemic requiring only a female response? Stuttgart: Bread for Life, 2006.
Brempong, Osei-Wusu, 'HIV/AIDS in Africa: Christian Ethics in Ghana,' in J. N. Amanze (Gen. ed.), Christian Ethics and HIV/AIDS in Africa, Gaborone: Bay Publishing, 2007, pp. 70-85.
Bruce, J. and S. Clark, 'The Implications of early marriage for HIV/AIDS policy,' brief based on background paper prepared for the WHO/UNFPA/Population Council Technical Consultation on Married Adolescents, New York: Population Council, 2004.
Chirau, S. (2006) 'Till Death Do Us Part: Marriage, HIV and the Law in Zimbabwe,' The Berkeley Electronic papers, http://law.bepress.com/expresso/eps/1419.
Chiroro, Patrick, Mashu, A. and Muhwava, W. The Zimbabwean Male Psyche with Respect to Reproductive Health, HIV, AIDS and Gender Issues, Harare: Centre for Applied Psychology, 2002.
Chitando, Ezra, Troubled But Not Destroyed, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2009.
Chitando, Ezra, Living with Hope: African Churches and HIV/AIDS 1, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2007.
Chitando, Ezra and Togarasei, Lovemore, 'Woman, where are they?: John7:53-8:11 and stigma in the context of HIV and AIDS,' Missionalia: Southern African Journal of Missiology, Vol. 36:1, 2008, pp.4-15.
Cowan, Gloria, 'Beliefs about the Causes of Four types of Rape,' Sex Roles Vol. 42:9/10, 2000, pp. 807-823.https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007042215614
Dube, Musa W. 'Social Location as a Story-telling Method of Teaching in HIV/AIDS Contexts' in Dube, Musa W. (ed.), HIV/AIDS and the Curriculum: Methods of Integrating HIV/AIDS in Theological Programmes, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2003.
Dube, Musa W. The HIV and AIDS Bible: Selected Essays, Scranton and London: University of Scranton Press.
Gichaara, Jonathan, 'Women, Religio-Cultural Factors and HIV/AIDS in Africa,' Black Theology Vol. 6:2, 2008, pp.188-199.https://doi.org/10.1558/blth2008v6i2.188
Igo, Robert, Window into hope: an invitation to faith in the context of HIV and AIDS, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2009.
Kealotswe, Obed, The African Independent Churches and Marital Problems in Botswana: A study of the African Independent Churches' solutions to marital problems as experienced in present day Botswana, forthcoming.
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Mbiti, John S. African Religions and Philosophy, Nairobi: Heineman, 1969.
Musopole, Augustine, Spirituality, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Malawi: Theological Strategies for Behaviour Change, Zomba: Kachere Series, 2006.
Nkomazana, Fidelis, 'Christian Ethics and HIV/AIDS in Botswana,' in Amanze, James, N. (Gen. ed.), Christian Ethics and HIV/AIDS in Africa, Gaborone: Bay Publishing, 2007, pp. 48-69.
PACANet, Ethno Cultural Factors and HIV and AIDS, Kampala: Pacanet, 2011.
Parikh, S. A. 'The Political Economy of Marriage and HIV: The ABC Approach, "Safe" Infidelity and Managing Moral Risk in Uganda,' American Journal of Public Health, 97:7, 2007, pp. 1198-1208. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2006.088682
Parry, Sue, Practicing Hope: A handbook for building HIV and AIDS competence in the churches, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2013.
Pinielo, Isaac and Pini Bothloko, 'Botswana: Bazezuru, Polygamy and HIV/AIDS', Mmegi online, 8 March 2010.
Randolph Tate, W. Interpreting the Bible, Massachessets: Hendrikson Publishers, 2006.
Saddiq Abdullahi, Rachel Tolhurst, David Lalloo and Sally Theobald, 'Promoting vulnerability or resilience to HIV? A qualitative study on polygamy in Maiduguri, Nigeria', AIDS Care Vol. 22:2, 2010, pp. 146-151. The Herald, 6 October 2010.https://doi.org/10.1080/09540120903039844
Togarasei, Lovemore, 'Paul and Masculinity: implications for HIV and AIDS responses among African Christians,' in Chitando, Ezra and Chirongoma, Sophia (Eds.), Redemptive Masculinities, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2012.
Togarasei, Lovemore, Rapid Assessment Report for FBOs Strategy for HIV response, submitted to Ministry of Health Botswana, Gaborone, 2009.
Togarasei, Lovemore; Jensen, Kipton; Nkomazana, Fidelis, Haron, Muhammed; Mmolai, sana and Sebina, Lucia, An Assessment of the Capacity of faith-Based Organization to Prevent HIV in Botswana: a report, Gaborone: Associated Press, 2008.
Tolbert, Mary Ann, 'The politics and poetics of location,' in F.F. Segovia and M.A.
Tolbert (eds.), Reading from this place: social location and biblical interpretation in the United States vol. 1, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995, pp.305-317.
Van der Brug, Mienke, World and experiences of AIDS orphans in north central Namibia, Leiden: African Studies Centre, 2007.
Weinreich, Sonja and Benn, Christoph, AIDS- Meeting the Challenge: Date, Facts and Background, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1909220.stm
Berner-Rodoreda, Astrid, HIV and AIDS in Africa: A female epidemic requiring only a female response? Stuttgart: Bread for Life, 2006.
Brempong, Osei-Wusu, 'HIV/AIDS in Africa: Christian Ethics in Ghana,' in J. N. Amanze (Gen. ed.), Christian Ethics and HIV/AIDS in Africa, Gaborone: Bay Publishing, 2007, pp. 70-85.
Bruce, J. and S. Clark, 'The Implications of early marriage for HIV/AIDS policy,' brief based on background paper prepared for the WHO/UNFPA/Population Council Technical Consultation on Married Adolescents, New York: Population Council, 2004.
Chirau, S. (2006) 'Till Death Do Us Part: Marriage, HIV and the Law in Zimbabwe,' The Berkeley Electronic papers, http://law.bepress.com/expresso/eps/1419.
Chiroro, Patrick, Mashu, A. and Muhwava, W. The Zimbabwean Male Psyche with Respect to Reproductive Health, HIV, AIDS and Gender Issues, Harare: Centre for Applied Psychology, 2002.
Chitando, Ezra, Troubled But Not Destroyed, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2009.
Chitando, Ezra, Living with Hope: African Churches and HIV/AIDS 1, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2007.
Chitando, Ezra and Togarasei, Lovemore, 'Woman, where are they?: John7:53-8:11 and stigma in the context of HIV and AIDS,' Missionalia: Southern African Journal of Missiology, Vol. 36:1, 2008, pp.4-15.
Cowan, Gloria, 'Beliefs about the Causes of Four types of Rape,' Sex Roles Vol. 42:9/10, 2000, pp. 807-823.https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007042215614
Dube, Musa W. 'Social Location as a Story-telling Method of Teaching in HIV/AIDS Contexts' in Dube, Musa W. (ed.), HIV/AIDS and the Curriculum: Methods of Integrating HIV/AIDS in Theological Programmes, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2003.
Dube, Musa W. The HIV and AIDS Bible: Selected Essays, Scranton and London: University of Scranton Press.
Gichaara, Jonathan, 'Women, Religio-Cultural Factors and HIV/AIDS in Africa,' Black Theology Vol. 6:2, 2008, pp.188-199.https://doi.org/10.1558/blth2008v6i2.188
Igo, Robert, Window into hope: an invitation to faith in the context of HIV and AIDS, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2009.
Kealotswe, Obed, The African Independent Churches and Marital Problems in Botswana: A study of the African Independent Churches' solutions to marital problems as experienced in present day Botswana, forthcoming.
LaFont, S. 'An Overview of Gender and Sexuality in Namibia,' in LaFont, S. and D. Hubbard (eds.), Unravelling Taboos: Gender and sexuality in Namibia, Windhoek: Legal Assistance Centre, 2007, pp. 1-19.
Mbiti, John S. African Religions and Philosophy, Nairobi: Heineman, 1969.
Musopole, Augustine, Spirituality, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Malawi: Theological Strategies for Behaviour Change, Zomba: Kachere Series, 2006.
Nkomazana, Fidelis, 'Christian Ethics and HIV/AIDS in Botswana,' in Amanze, James, N. (Gen. ed.), Christian Ethics and HIV/AIDS in Africa, Gaborone: Bay Publishing, 2007, pp. 48-69.
PACANet, Ethno Cultural Factors and HIV and AIDS, Kampala: Pacanet, 2011.
Parikh, S. A. 'The Political Economy of Marriage and HIV: The ABC Approach, "Safe" Infidelity and Managing Moral Risk in Uganda,' American Journal of Public Health, 97:7, 2007, pp. 1198-1208. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2006.088682
Parry, Sue, Practicing Hope: A handbook for building HIV and AIDS competence in the churches, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2013.
Pinielo, Isaac and Pini Bothloko, 'Botswana: Bazezuru, Polygamy and HIV/AIDS', Mmegi online, 8 March 2010.
Randolph Tate, W. Interpreting the Bible, Massachessets: Hendrikson Publishers, 2006.
Saddiq Abdullahi, Rachel Tolhurst, David Lalloo and Sally Theobald, 'Promoting vulnerability or resilience to HIV? A qualitative study on polygamy in Maiduguri, Nigeria', AIDS Care Vol. 22:2, 2010, pp. 146-151. The Herald, 6 October 2010.https://doi.org/10.1080/09540120903039844
Togarasei, Lovemore, 'Paul and Masculinity: implications for HIV and AIDS responses among African Christians,' in Chitando, Ezra and Chirongoma, Sophia (Eds.), Redemptive Masculinities, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2012.
Togarasei, Lovemore, Rapid Assessment Report for FBOs Strategy for HIV response, submitted to Ministry of Health Botswana, Gaborone, 2009.
Togarasei, Lovemore; Jensen, Kipton; Nkomazana, Fidelis, Haron, Muhammed; Mmolai, sana and Sebina, Lucia, An Assessment of the Capacity of faith-Based Organization to Prevent HIV in Botswana: a report, Gaborone: Associated Press, 2008.
Tolbert, Mary Ann, 'The politics and poetics of location,' in F.F. Segovia and M.A.
Tolbert (eds.), Reading from this place: social location and biblical interpretation in the United States vol. 1, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995, pp.305-317.
Van der Brug, Mienke, World and experiences of AIDS orphans in north central Namibia, Leiden: African Studies Centre, 2007.
Weinreich, Sonja and Benn, Christoph, AIDS- Meeting the Challenge: Date, Facts and Background, Geneva: WCC Publications, 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1909220.stm
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Sep 30, 2024
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Healing Culture, Healing AIDS: A Review of some African Cultural and Religious Beliefs and Practices in Contexts of HIV and AIDS. (2024). Utambuzi: Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and Its Diaspora, 1(1), 49-64. https://doi.org/10.17159/
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How to Cite
Healing Culture, Healing AIDS: A Review of some African Cultural and Religious Beliefs and Practices in Contexts of HIV and AIDS. (2024). Utambuzi: Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and Its Diaspora, 1(1), 49-64. https://doi.org/10.17159/