Prevention implications of AIDS discourses among South African women. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Prevention implications of AIDS discourses among South African women.

AIDS Educ Prev. 1996 Aug;8(4):352-74. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/97028639
Strebel A; Department of Psychology, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town,; South Africa.

Abstract: Social constructionist and feminist analyses have done much to extend the understanding of AIDS beyond the biomedical to include social accounts of the constitution of AIDS knowledge and meanings. However, these frameworks have not translated easily into realistic responses to the paradox of women being seen as responsible for HIV prevention, while they lack the power to implement safe sex behavior. This study explores the range and interplay of discursive themes which South African women drew on regarding AIDS and identifies constraints and opportunities for realistic prevention. The research involved 14 focus group discussions with women. Two main interpretative repertoires regarding AIDS were identified from the texts: one concerning the medicalization and the other the stigmatization of the disease. Although these representations were not unchallenged, the pervasive sense was of denial of own risk, fear, and fatalism. However, the analysis highlighted the complexity of issues to be faced in developing effective prevention initiatives.
Keywords: *Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PREVENTION & CONTROL *WomenKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/prevention&controlKWDwomen
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Copyright © 1997 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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