Witches, Westerners, and HIV

Aids and Cultures of Blame in Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID23553312
AuthorsAlexander Rödlach
Year2016
Pages258
Publication date2016-09-17
Open AccessNo
TypeBOOK
VenueWitches, Westerners, and HIV (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.4324/9781315415734
OpenAlexW4254255437
ISBN9781315415734
Open LibraryOL53997346M
LanguageEN
Citations received4

A witch's curse, an imperialist conspiracy, a racist plot—HIV/AIDS is a catastrophic health crisis with complex cultural dimensions. From small villages to the international system, explanations of where it comes from, who gets it, and who dies are tied to political agendas, religious beliefs, and the psychology of devastating grief. Frequently these explanations conflict with science and clash with prevention and treatment programs. In Witches, Westerners, and HIV Alexander Rödlach draws on a decade of research and work in Zimbabwe to compare beliefs about witchcraft and conspiracy theories surrounding HIV/AIDS in Africa. He shows how both types of beliefs are part of a process of blaming others for AIDS, a process that occurs around the globe but takes on local, culturally specific forms. He also demonstrates the impact of these beliefs on public health and advocacy programs, arguing that cultural misunderstandings contribute to the failure of many well-intentioned efforts. This insightful book provides a cultural perspective essential for everyone interested in AIDS and cross-cultural health issues.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Virology · Africa · AIDS (Disease) · Conspiracies · Conspiration · HIV Infections · Infections à VIH · Manners and customs · Medical anthropology · Opinion publique · Public opinion · Sida · Social conditions · Social life and customs · Sorcellerie · Witchcraft · Zimbabwe

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