Fiction of Fidelity

This issue of the Journal highlights a group of articles published in Framing Health Matters that contributes to our understanding of sexual life from a sociocultural perspective. Using a qualitative approach each examines the sociocultural and economic context of a particular country and reveals how the context contributes to HIV transmission. Based on the findings the authors further suggest potential intervention strategies. Although 3 of the ethnographic studies were carried out in different developing nations they were remarkably consistent in their findings surrounding the sociocultural forces driving HIV infection. Generally all found that a number of factors most notably migration for work cultural beliefs and norms gender inequality socioeconomic status and the social context of marriage worked together to promote mens extramarital sexual activity thus contributing to an increased risk for HIV infection among their wives. (excerpt)

Context (archaeology) · Developing country · Economic growth · Economics · Ethnography · Framing (construction) · Geography · Population · Sociocultural evolution · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Anthropology · Demography · Gender Studies · HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Social Psychology

• Gender norms in South Africa

  Joanne E Mantell, Sarah L Needham et al.•Culture Health & Sexuality•2009

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