Abstract
This study was inspired by the need to develop awareness about what is going on in
Mozambique regarding to the issue of
HIV/AIDS. The research examined how and why
the organizations of PLWA ( People Living with HIV/AIDS) in Mozambique are
emerging and developing, compared the particularities of the existing organizations of
people living with HIV/AIDS in three province of this country (Maputo, Manica and
Zambezia), and finally examined how they function, and interact with governmental and
non- governmental institutions.
The study made use of the ethnographic method to design and generate a rapid "picture"
of the social culture around this HIV community. The focus on this method provided
further in-depth qualitative insights. Behavioral surveys were designed to provide rapid
key data on sexual behavior, condom use and STI1s. Together, these sources of data
provided a spatial, quantitative and qualitative overview of the research.
The results from this study turned that the associations of PLWA and its members face
many problems such as discr imination and stigma that is attached to the scourge. But
notwithstanding these problems, these associations are showing an incredible dedication
to addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS.
In the three provinces where this research was conducted it transpired that the
associations of PLWHA are a new phenomenon, where the members are looking for their
own space in order to tackle the problem that is being posed by HIV/AIDS.
The research reveals, furthermore, that there are no significant differences between
HIV/AIDS associations in these three provinces. There are more similarities than there
are differences. The associations have in common issues such as unemployment, low
level of schooling, uncontrolled urbanization, prostitution, lack of resources to support
their family members, etc. Other types of similarities are shaped by patterns of formation of these associations which were similar, what invites one to think that may have been formed by the same people.
As combating HIV/AIDS seems an important tool in poverty eradication, Government,
civil society and the media should step up its efforts of reducing discrimination and
stigmatization of PLWA through information campaigns. They should also redesign the
messages in the information campaigns to ensure that they achieve the targeted audience,
and add messages that promote PLWA associations and the benefits of joining them.
1 Sexual transmitted infections
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/4732 |
| Date | 03 April 2008 |
| Creators | Da Silveira Muianga, Elisa Maria |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 2703531 bytes, application/pdf, application/pdf |
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