An exploration of the underlying social dynamics that make women vulnerable to HIV infection
| dc.contributor.advisor | De Klerk, G. W. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ackermann, Leáne | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-04-24T10:23:39Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-04-24T10:23:39Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2002-05 | |
| dc.description.abstract | English: In South Africa, as in the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS has become a source of national and international concern. After many prevention campaigns and education programmes the viruscontinues to spread at an alarming rate, forcing one to look more carefully at the underlying social organization that could be conducive to the spread of thisdisease. In particular the position of women isbeing investigated in order to uncover the social dynamics that increase their vulnerability to this disease. In the year 2000, almost a quarter (24,5%)of South African women attending antenatal clinics were HIV positive. Physiologically,women appear to be at greater riskof contracting HIV than men. Apart from the physiological vulnerability of women it is important to consider the social aspects that put women at risk.This thesis considers the following social factors that put women at risk: violence against women, rape in particular; the unfavourable economic position of women that threatens the well- being of women as it encourages behaviour that increases the riskof HIV infection: the low educational status of women; a sexual culture which includes practices and expectations that put women at risk. This exploratory study revealed that women lack specific knowledge concerning the disease and hold certain misconceptions about how being in a stable relationship protects one against the disease. Another important finding was that these women, who acquired the disease, were in stable relationships that were generally positive and rewarding and that the overriding motivation to have sex was based on love. This emphasizes the fact that all women are at risk and that the very nature of a stable relationship (that encourages trust and complacency) is what puts women at risk. Some relationships were negative and this involved forced sex. Regarding the non-use of condoms, the main reason cited was that people who trust one another, do not use condoms. Unfortunately the real culture of infidelity coupled with the emphasis on trust (no condoms) was one important reason why these women acquired HIV. In addition to the above, the study revealed that the trans-gender and trans-generational lack of communication regarding sexual matters makes it difficult for women to insist on condom use when they suspect their partners to be unfaithful. This study recommends that action to protect women must be taken on an individual, organisational and ideological level. On an individual level, it is important that all women perceive themselves to be at risk and that they know exactly how to go about protecting themselves. In addition to this, individuals should continuously be motivated to practice behaviour that will protect them from HIV infection. This motivation can come through socialisation agents such as schools, parents, churches and the media. It is also important that women have the power to dictate sexual behaviour. Regarding the organisational level, HIV counselling and anti-retrorviral therapy should be available. Sexually transmitted diseases should be prevented with the help of the health care sector and the mobilisation of organisations that work to combat violence against women. Ideologically, the patriarchal nature of our society must be changed before wide spread behavioural change will occur. The rampant spread of this disease can only be stemmed if the subordinate position of women is acknowledged and addressed. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | Afrikaans: MIV/Vigs het in Suid-Afrika,soos in die res van Sub-Sahara Afrika, 'n bron van nasionale en internasionale kommer geword. Ten spyte van vele voorkomings veldtogte en onderrig programme, versprei die virus nog steeds teen 'n geweldige tempo. Dit vereis 'n indringende ondersoek na die onderliggende sosialeorganisasie bevorderlik vir die verspreiding van MIV is. In die besonder is die posisie van die vrou ondersoek om vas te stel watter sosiale faktore hulle vatbaarheid tot die siekteverhoog. In die jaar 2000,was ongeveer 'n kwart (24,5%)van alle Suid-Afrikaanse vroue wat antenataleklinieke besoek het, MIV positief bevind. Ditwil.voorkom asof vroue 'n groter fsiologieserisikohet om met die MIvirus besmet te word, as mans. Afgesien van die fisiologiese kwesbaarheid van vroue, is dit belangrik om die sosiale aspekte te oorweeg wat vroue vir die siekte vatbaar maak. Hierdie studie fokusop die volgende sosiale faktore wat vroue se kwesbaarheid verhoog: geweld teen vroue en verkragting in besonder, die ongunstige ekonomiese posisie van vroue wat die welvsyn van vroue bedreig, omdat dit hoë risikogedrag aanmoedig; die lae opvoedkundige status van vroue, 'ti seksuele kultuur wat praktyke en verwagtinge insluitwat vir die vrou nadelig is. Hierdie verkennende studie het bevind dat vroue oor spesifiekekennis rakende die siekte ontbeer en onder die wanbegrip is dat 'n stabiele verhouding, in sigself, teen MIV besmetting beskerm. In Ander belangrike bevinding was dat vroue in die studie, wat MIVopgedoen het, wel in stabiele verhoudings betrokke was wat oor die algemeen positief en belonend was en dat die oorhoofse motivering om sekste hê, op liefde gebaseer was. Dit beklemtoon die feit dat alle vroue In risiko loop en dat dit die aard van In stabiele verhouding is (wat juis vertroue en valse gerustheid bevorder) wat vrouens se kwesbaarheid verhoog. Sekereverhoudingswas negatief en het wel gedwonge seks ingesluit. Die hoof rede wat aangevoer is vir die nie-gebruik van kondome, isdat die een persoon die ander vertrou. Ongelukkig is die ware kultuur van ontrouheid gekoppel aan 'n oorbeklemtoning van vertroue, (geen kondome) en dit is een van die belangrikste redes hoekom hierdie vroue MIVopgedoen het. Die studie bevind ook dat daar 'n gebrek aan kommunikasie oor seksuele aangeleenthede tussenmans en vrouens en tussenverskillende generasies bestaan. Dit maak dit moeilik maak vir vroue om op kondoom gebruik aan te dring (wanneer hulle vermoed dat hulle metgeselontrou was). Hierdie studie beveel aan dat aksie om vroue te beskerm op 'n individuele, organisatoriese en ideologiese vlak moet geskied. Op In individuele vlak, is dit belangrik dat alle vroue bewus moet wees dat hulle In risikoloop om MIV op te doen en dat hulle presiesmoet weet hoe om hulleself te beskerm. Tesame hiermee, moet individue voordurend gemotiveer word om gedrag te beoefen wat hulle teen MIV infeksie sal beskerm. Sosialiseringsagente soos skole, ouers, kerke en die media kan hierdie motivering doen. Dit is ook belangrik dat vroue die mag het om hulle gedrag te verander. Rakende die organisatiese vlak, moet MIV berading en vigmedikasie beskikbaar wees. Daar moet gepoog word om seksueeloordraagbare siekteste voorkom met die hulp van die gesondheidsorgsektor en organisasies wat geweld teen vroue bekamp moet ook gemobiliseer word. Ideologies, moet die patriargale aard van die samelewing ook verander voordat gedragsverandering sal plaasvind. Die verspreiding van die siekte kan slegs gestuit word indien die ondergeskikte posisie van die vrou erken en aangespreek word. | af |
| dc.description.sponsorship | National Research Foundation (NRF) | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11660/6143 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | University of the Free State | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | University of the Free State | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Women | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | HIV | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | AIDS | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Gender | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Vulnerability | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Culture | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Women -- Diseases -- Social aspects | en_ZA |
| dc.subject | Dissertation (M.Soc.Sc.(Sociology))--University of the Free State, 2002 | en_ZA |
| dc.title | An exploration of the underlying social dynamics that make women vulnerable to HIV infection | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Dissertation | en_ZA |