"My Mother Told Me I Must Not Cook Anymore"--food, Culture, and the Context of HIV- and AIDS-related Stigma in Three Communities in South Africa

Overview

Journal Int Q Community Health Educ

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialties Health Services
Public Health

Date 2008 Dec 20

PMID 19095587

Citations 14

Authors

T A Okoror

C O Airhihenbuwa

M Zungu

D Makofani

D C Brown

J Iwelunmor

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of food as an instrument in expressing and experiencing HIV/AIDS stigma by HIV-positive women and their families, with the goal of reducing discrimination. It goes beyond willingness to share utensils, which has been identified in HIV/AIDS research. As part of an ongoing capacity-building HIV/AIDS stigma project in South Africa, 25 focus groups and 15 key informant interviews were conducted among 195 women and 54 men in three Black communities. Participants were asked to discuss how they were treated in the family as women living with HIV and AIDS, and data was organized using the PEN-3 model. Findings highlight both the positive and negative experiences HIV-positive women encounter. Women would not disclose their HIV status to avoid being isolated from participating in the socio-cultural aspects of food preparation, while others that have disclosed their status have experienced alienation. The symbolic meanings of food should be a major consideration when addressing the elimination of HIV/AIDS stigma in South Africa.

Citing Articles

Opioid use and HIV treatment services experiences among male criminal justice-involved persons in South Africa: a qualitative study.

An Y, Hoffmann C, Bhoora U, Ndini P, Moyo D, Steiner L Harm Reduct J. 2023; 20(1):90.

PMID: 37480041 PMC: 10360229. DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00834-6.

Exploring Cultural Influences of Self-Management of Diabetes in Coastal Kenya: An Ethnography.

Abdulrehman M, Woith W, Jenkins S, Kossman S, Hunter G Glob Qual Nurs Res. 2017; 3:2333393616641825.

PMID: 28462335 PMC: 5342641. DOI: 10.1177/2333393616641825.

Experiences of Discrimination Among Youth with HIV/AIDS in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Sangowawa A, Owoaje E J Public Health Afr. 2017; 3(1):e10.

PMID: 28299083 PMC: 5345439. DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2012.e10.

Social context surrounding HIV diagnosis and construction of masculinity: a qualitative study of stigma experiences of heterosexual HIV positive men in southwest Nigeria.

Okoror T, Falade C, Walker E, Olorunlana A, Anaele A BMC Public Health. 2016; 16:507.

PMID: 27296862 PMC: 4906588. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3165-z.

Dahlui M, Azahar N, Bulgiba A, Zaki R, Oche O, Adekunjo F PLoS One. 2015; 10(12):e0143749.

PMID: 26658767 PMC: 4675522. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143749.

References

Kipp W, Nkosi T, Laing L, Jhangri G . Care burden and self-reported health status of informal women caregivers of HIV/AIDS patients in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. AIDS Care. 2006; 18(7):694-7. DOI: 10.1080/13548500500294401. View

Airhihenbuwa C, Webster J . Culture and African contexts of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support. SAHARA J. 2007; 1(1):4-13. DOI: 10.1080/17290376.2004.9724822. View

Kalichman S, DiMarco M, Austin J, Luke W, DiFonzo K . Stress, social support, and HIV-status disclosure to family and friends among HIV-positive men and women. J Behav Med. 2003; 26(4):315-32. DOI: 10.1023/a:1024252926930. View

Zierler S, Cunningham W, Andersen R, Shapiro M, Nakazono T, Morton S . Violence victimization after HIV infection in a US probability sample of adult patients in primary care. Am J Public Health. 2000; 90(2):208-15. PMC: 1446146. DOI: 10.2105/ajph.90.2.208. View

Linsk N, Mason S . Stresses on grandparents and other relatives caring for children affected by HIV/AIDS. Health Soc Work. 2004; 29(2):127-36. DOI: 10.1093/hsw/29.2.127. View

Parker R, Aggleton P . HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination: a conceptual framework and implications for action. Soc Sci Med. 2003; 57(1):13-24. DOI: 10.1016/s0277-9536(02)00304-0. View

Wight R . Precursive depression among HIV infected AIDS caregivers over time. Soc Sci Med. 2000; 51(5):759-70. DOI: 10.1016/s0277-9536(00)00007-1. View

Herek G, Mitnick L, Burris S, Chesney M, Devine P, Fullilove M . Workshop report: AIDS and stigma: a conceptual framework and research agenda. AIDS Public Policy J. 2000; 13(1):36-47. View

Gostin L, Webber D . The AIDS Litigation Project: HIV/AIDS in the courts in the 1990s, Part 2. AIDS Public Policy J. 2000; 13(1):3-19. View

10.

Simbayi L, Kalichman S, Strebel A, Cloete A, Henda N, Mqeketo A . Internalized stigma, discrimination, and depression among men and women living with HIV/AIDS in Cape Town, South Africa. Soc Sci Med. 2007; 64(9):1823-31. PMC: 4271649. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.01.006. View

11.

Campbell C, Foulis C, Maimane S, Sibiya Z . "I have an evil child at my house": stigma and HIV/AIDS management in a South African community. Am J Public Health. 2005; 95(5):808-15. PMC: 1449259. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2003.037499. View

12.

Bharat S, Aggleton P . Facing the challenge: household responses to HIV/AIDS in Mumbai, India. AIDS Care. 1999; 11(1):31-44. DOI: 10.1080/09540129948180. View

13.

Herek G, Capitanio J, Widaman K . Stigma, social risk, and health policy: public attitudes toward HIV surveillance policies and the social construction of illness. Health Psychol. 2003; 22(5):533-40. DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.22.5.533. View

14.

Nkosi T, Kipp W, Laing L, Mill J . Family caregiving for AIDS patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Healthc Q. 2006; 9(3):94-101. View

15.

Airhihenbuwa C, Kumanyika S, Agurs T, Lowe A, Saunders D, Morssink C . Cultural aspects of African American eating patterns. Ethn Health. 1996; 1(3):245-60. DOI: 10.1080/13557858.1996.9961793. View

16.

Scambler G . Stigma and disease: changing paradigms. Lancet. 1998; 352(9133):1054-5. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(98)08068-4. View