Renegotiating cultural practices as a result of HIV in the eastern region of Malawi

Bibliographic Data

ID15099674
AuthorsFelix Banda (0000-0002-1956-4418, corresponding author), Thokozani Eunice Kunkeyani (University of the Western Cape)
Year2015
Volume17
Issue1
Pages34-47
Publication date2015-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691058.2014.944569
PMID25138154
OpenAlexW2081691718
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited12

A number of studies have shown that HIV awareness is very high among Malawians and yet infection rates are rising. Local cultural practices have been identified as contributing to this contradictory situation. Using data from 12 focus-group discussions collected in Balaka, Zomba, Machinga and Mangochi, the paper explores the reformulation of nine cultural practices as a preventive measure against HIV. The study reveals that cultural practices that involve sexual acts for completion are mediated through condoms and HIV tests. The study also shows that traditional herbs known for healing ailments are repurposed to symbolise sexual acts. We conclude that the idea of repurposing offers an avenue in which initiation and cleansing rites that involve sexual acts are replaced by other semiotics such as a traditional medicine called mtela. We also conclude that the modifications to cultural practices do not indicate complete abandonment of associated traditions, rather, they constitute the renegotiation of cultural practices and meanings associated with particular rites of passage. Lastly, we propose that a comprehensive prevention programme needs to be part of a wider national HIV-prevention effort combining a women and child rights and empowerment agenda and, critically, lifestyle lessons in a process of cultural renegotiation

Abandonment (legal · Empowerment · Family medicine · Focus group · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Political science · Repurposing · Sociology · Anthropology · Gender Studies · Law · Medicine · Philippine History and Culture · Qualitative Research Methods and Applications · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics

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