published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (MPhill)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Given the impact that culture has on individuals‟ behaviour and the relation that behaviour especially sexual behaviour has with the spread of HIV/AIDS, the research took a look at the Shona culture and the impact that the married Shona men and their sexual practices had on their wives and the overall relationship/marriage. Interviews were conducted with married Shona women with the aim of getting recent information on the Shona culture and the practices of married Shona men so as to establish the levels of risk and the uncover vulnerabilities that are current. Information obtained from these interviews showed that although the Shona culture promotes certain behaviours amongst married people, some of these practices are being done away with but unfortunately not at a fast enough pace and because of this there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to ensure that risk of infection amongst married Shona couples is reduced and levels of vulnerability are tackled as well. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsprojek ondersoek die invloed van kultuur op die gedrag van „n individu en meer spesifiek, die invloed van individuele gedrag op die verspreiding van MIV/Vigs. Die studie ondersoek die Shona kultuur en die invloed wat die getroude Shona man het op die seksuele praktyke in die huwelik. Onderhoude is met getroude Shona vroue gevoer ten einde eerstehandse inligting te verky oor die invoed wat Shona kultuur op die Shona huwelik het en om verder te bepaal in watter mate die getroude Shona vrou onnodig aan die risiko van MIV blootgestel word. Inligting wat in hierdie ondersoek versamel is dui daarop dat die Shona kultuur nog steeds seker praktyke tussen getroude persone aanmoeding en dat dit nog steeds die risiko van MIV-oordraging verhoog. Daar is weliswaar met sekere van hierdie praktyke weggedoen, maar daar is nog steeds verskeie praktyke wat voortbestaan en wat MIV-oordraging verhoog. Die pas waarteen kultuur aanpas by die verhoogde waarskynlikheid van MIV-oordraging tussen getroude Shona mans en vrouens is nog steeds te stadig. Sekere voorstelle word in die studie gemaak ten einde te probeer om hierdie kultureel-gedrewe risiko vir MIV/Vigs-oordraging te beperk.