The Intersection of Gender, Culture and HIV-AIDS:

The Loss of Human Capital and the Responses of Universities in Africa.

Welpe, Ingelore/Owino, Philip (Eds.)
Angewandte Genderforschung/Gender Research Applied,
2. Band.
Peter Lang Verlag
2006

HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa affects more women than men and for different reasons. Manifold gender-based violations fuel the epidemic and give evidence of unequal power relations of women and men. It is the coercive gender relations that predispose many women to infection. There is a clear linkage between the constructions of female sexuality and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. But there is also evidence that women comply with their oppression. This qualitative study aims to identify factors which determine women's compliance in the context of HIV/AIDS and sexuality and to investigate how women break out of power relations. Data collection was carried out through 32 problem-centred face-to-face interviews and 4 focus group interviews.