Reproductive Decision Making and the HIV/Aids Epidemic in Zimbabwe

Bibliographic Data

ID4603792
AuthorsMira Grieser, J Gittelsohn (0000-0003-2761-3280, Johns Hopkins University), Anita V Shankar, Anita Shankar (0000-0002-7071-2009, Johns Hopkins University), Todd Koppenhaver, Thomas Legrand (0000-0002-5544-0703), Thomas K Legrand, Ravai Marindo, Webster M Mavhu, Webster Mavhu (0000-0003-1881-4398), Kenneth Hill (Johns Hopkins University)
Year2001
Volume27
Issue2
Pages225-243
Publication date2001-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Southern African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0305-7070 • E-ISSN: 1465-3893
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03057070120049949
OpenAlexW2129269024
LanguageEN
Citations received25
References cited22

The fertility-stimulating effect of high rates of child mortality on reproductive decision making (RDM) is a central tenet of population studies, yet the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on RDM have not been thoroughly explored in the literature. This paper investigates how RDM is articulated in the context of high HIV/AIDS prevalence in Zimbabwe. Using qualitative methods (35 focus groups and 46 in-depth interviews), we found that childbearing is extremely important in the lives of adult Zimbabweans and that children are needed to cement the couple's relationship, whether it is the first or subsequent marriage. Most respondents said that rates of both adult and child mortality were greatly increasing due to the AIDS epidemic. However, contrary to expectations based upon the insurance strategy, most respondents said that they would have fewer children as a result of the perceived increase in child mortality. They were also hesitant to continue childbearing after a child death, indicating only weak replacement motivation. Instead, many respondents expressed the desire to limit family size due to concerns about their own mortality and its negative effects on their children. Furthermore, new reproductive strategies seem to be emerging, which focus upon the health of parents and child and are based upon perceptions of 100 per cent maternal-infant HIV transmission. Adult HIV status is linked to child survival as respondents explained that having a healthy child who survives to age five indicates that the parents are also free of the virus and, at this point, they can safely continue childbearing. Additionally, couples who have experienced the death of a child are hesitant to give birth again because they believe future children would die. Finally, there was some talk of having children early in an attempt to avoid contracting HIV. This study presents evidence that Zimbabweans are altering their reproductive strategies in order to protect both parents and children from the threat of AIDS

Child mortality · Environmental health · Fertility · Focus group · Geography · Population · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare