Perceptions of HIV and AIDS are inextricably linked to stigma and discrimination and
perceptions of HIV positive mothers are particularly complex. In order to obtain a perspective on
social perceptions of HIV positive mothers this study interviewed eight HIV negative, workingclass
mothers. By focusing on HIV negative mothers, who shared the social category of
motherhood (thereby providing an insider perspective), HIV was fore-grounded and social
perceptions of HIV was explored from an outsider perspective. A vignette was used to facilitate a
semi-structured interview which explored issues around general perceptions of the HIV positive
individual (with a particular focus on issues around stigma and blame); perceptions of HIV
positive motherhood and perceptions of the impact of maternal HIV on the child. Interview data
was analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis. Results highlighted that motherhood from the
perspective of the mother was perceived differently to motherhood from the perspective of the
child. From the perspective of the mother, respondents identified with the HIV positive mother
as a black, working-class mother and viewed her as ‘normal’ and ‘ordinary.’ Identifying infected
mothers as part of the group of black, working-class women, respondents drew on their similarity
of being powerless in heterosexual relationships. Thus respondents viewed HIV positive mothers
as blameless victims when they became infected as their perception was that promiscuity was not
a part of motherhood. When motherhood was considered from the perspective of the child,
respondents viewed the HIV positive mother as a soon-to-be absent mother who continued to
infect her child. The infected mother was perceived to have a relatively short lifespan and as
such was perceived to fail in her duty as mother when she was not available to ensure that her
child developed normally. Respondents perceived that the absent and unavailable infected
mother produced children who are socially, morally and developmentally disadvantaged when
they are teased and ostracized by society, fail to grow and develop normally and eventually turn
into criminals.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/4883 |
| Date | 26 May 2008 |
| Creators | Malek, Nasreen |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 37257 bytes, 24626 bytes, 14819 bytes, 314325 bytes, 9812 bytes, 10292 bytes, 26175 bytes, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf |
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