Narrating fragile stories about HIV/AIDS in South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven P. Black

This article analyzes narratives about living with HIV/ AIDS amid stigma, using the notion of “fragile stories” to further detail the linguistic practices through which people narrate experiences in danger of not being told. The article is based on fieldwork in 2008 in Durban, South Africa with a Zulu gospel choir in which all group members are living with HIV/AIDS. Close analysis of recorded narratives demonstrates how institutional story frameworks and the normative performance of gender helped storytellers to breach boundaries drawn by stigma. The article consolidates research on narrative tellability and fragile stories, verbal art, and stigma. The article has implications for research amid stigma, advocating linguistic analysis of narrative to emphasize the relationship between stories told and life events involving stigmatization.

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 64-75
Author(s):  
Md. Zawawi Abu Bakar ◽  
Rajwani Md. Zain ◽  
Wan Ab Rahman Khudzri Wan Abdullah

This paper aims to explain the dilemma that occurs in marital relationships. The issue of performing the external or internal maintenance obligation on the husband who has HIV / AIDS causes the wife to suffer. Thus, a qualitative study has been done to identify the dilemma that occurs in the relationship between husband and wife. Archival research methods such as the provisions of Islamic Family Law (UUKI), fiqh munakahat and case studies have been used. Interview methods were also performed to answer the objectives of the study. A total of 8 respondents, namely the wives of AIDS sufferers, were interviewed to obtain study data and the data was finally analyzed manually (QDA). The results show that there is discrimination against people living with HIV / AIDS (OHDHA) (wife) in the form of external and internal maintenance (husband and wife relationship). Even sadder, all respondents have been infected with HIV / AIDS as a result of intimate relationships with their husbands. The study finally concludes that OHDHA (wife) needs guidance and understanding of how to deal with the dilemma of performing duties as a wife and avoiding darar treatment from her partner (husband). Keywords: UUKI, Obligation, Wife, nafkah, HIV/AIDS. Makalah ini bertujuan menjelaskan dilema yang berlaku dalam hubungan suami isteri. Isu berkenaan melaksanakan kewajipan nafkah zahir atau batin terhadap suami yang menghidap HIV/AIDS menyebabkan isteri menderita. Justeru, satu kajian kualitatif telah dilakukan untuk mengenal pasti dilemma tersebut yang berlaku dalam hubungan suami isteri. Kaedah kajian arkib seperti peruntukan Undang-Undang Keluarga Islam (UUKI), fiqh munakahat dan kajian kes telah digunakan. Kaedah temubual juga telah dilakukan untuk menjawab objektif kajian. Responden seramai 8 orang iaitu isteri kepada penghidap AIDS telah ditemubual bagi mendapat data kajian dan data akhirnya dianalisis secara manual (QDA). Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa berlaku diskriminasi terhadap Orang Hidup Dengan HIV/AIDS (OHDHA) (isteri) iaitu dalam bentuk nafkah zahir dan batin (hubungan suami isteri). Lebih menyedihkan lagi semua responden telah dijangkiti HIV/AIDS hasil hubungan intim bersama suami. Kajian akhirnya menyimpulkan bahawa OHDHA (isteri) perlu kepada bimbingan dan pemahaman bagaimana menangani dilemma melaksanakan kewajipan sebagai isteri dan mengelakkan daripada perlakuan darar daripada pasangannya (suami).   Kata kunci: UUKI, kewajipan, isteri, nafkah, HIV/AIDS


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-68
Author(s):  
Nkosiyazi Dube ◽  
Linda Harms Smith

There is a dilemma regarding HIV/AIDS disclosure to children born and living with HIV/AIDS in residential settings. Since the advent and accessibility of Anti-Retroviral Therapy, most children born HIV positive live longer and have healthier lives. Some of these children find themselves in Need of Care due to abandonment, orphanhood and neglect or abuse, and are placed in alternative care such as a Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC). Social Service Workers are then faced with this dilemma around disclosure of their HIV status, due to the complexities around the consequences of such a disclosure, and the absence of clear policies in this regard. The study explored the perceptions of social service workers regarding disclosure of HIV status to children born HIV positive living in a CYCC in Ekurhuleni, South Africa. The findings indicate that HIV status disclosure is a complex but essential process as it reinforces children’s ability to adhere to medication and dispels anxiety and suspicion within themselves around their status. Recommendations relate to community education and awareness programmes, policy and practice changes and makes suggestions for future research.


Author(s):  
Meghan Ward

With approximately 5.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS, South Africa has the highest HIV­ prevalence rate in the world. HIV tends to strike the most vulnerable people in society, and is often associated with high risk behaviours, which inevitably leads to stigmatization. Through an integration of theatre and development theory, I propose to investigate the potential of using theatre as a community event that raises awareness of collective issues and that offers new hope to people living with HIV. I suggest that theatre can educate the heart and put a human face on HIV/AIDS, thus catalyzing a healing process at the community level. By targeting township youth, those who are currently driving the virus, an interactive theatre style, such as participatory methodology, can effectively move beyond didactic education. In participatory theatre, the target group is incorporated into the theatrical representation of their circumstances through the performance of personal testimonies associated with HIV. Here, the power of theatre lies in its ability to produce individual reactions in the audience, which ultimately result in a collective experience and elevated consciousness through the discussion that ensues. The community is thus empowered to engage in a new ap proach to HIV/AIDS. Can such a performance prevent further infections by exposing the consequences and realities of living with AIDS? While a test­case would be ideal in the affirmation of these ideas, I hope to bring a new approach to community theatre through a combination of theories from both theatre and international development studies.


Author(s):  
Matsobane J. Manala

The HIV/Aids pandemic is cause for great frustration to the developing countries in their attempts to improve the quality of life of their citizens. HIV/Aids in South Africa demands a specific approach to the Christian ministry in which the African world-view is acknowledged. In order for the church to play a relevant and meaningful role in combating the HIV/Aids pandemic, it is necessary that the church should be informed of the existential situation of persons living with HIV/Aids. This information is vital for raising awareness and engendering sensitivity among Christians. In the context of such awareness of and sensitivity to human pain and suffering, the community of the faithful should be moved to heed Christ’s call to show neighbourly love. The possible role of the church in caring for those who are already infected with HIV is defined.


2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1133-1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Breuer ◽  
Kevin Stoloff ◽  
Landon Myer ◽  
Soraya Seedat ◽  
Dan J. Stein ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 697-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresa M. Mieh ◽  
Juliet Iwelunmor ◽  
Collins O. Airhihenbuwa

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mweete D Nglazi ◽  
Sacha J West ◽  
Joel A Dave ◽  
Naomi S Levitt ◽  
Estelle V Lambert

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