10 - HIV/AIDS: Social Science and HIV/Aids Policies in Africa
CODESRIA Bulletin,
No. 02-03-04 (2003): CODESRIA Bulletin, Nos 2, 3 & 4, 2003
Abstract
As is well-known the HIV infection profile in sub-Saharan Africa is very different from the HIV infection profile in the developed North. This paper explores the strengths and weaknesses of the three main explanations for this difference: the cultural explanation, the dependency explanation and the rational choice explanation. I argue that all three explanations have major problems. The cultural explanation ignores the variety of African cultures and the wide variations in sexual practices of Africans in different countries and ethnic communities. It also tends to place the blame for HIV/Aids on African women. The dependency model is too concerned with the workings of the world system, puts too
much emphasis on poverty and overlooks the internal dynamics of the various countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The rational choice explanation underestimates the roles of emotion and habit in human sexual behaviour. Nevertheless
social science research and debate have ensured that moralism has played a minimal role in the formulation of Aids policies in sub-Saharan Africa. Social science research shows that all individuals are at risk and that the situation is going to get worse unless serious effort is committed towards the fight against Aids. Social science debate has ensured
that the afflicted are seen as victims more than as vectors. Aids policies in Africa have seesawed between containment of victims and potential victims and their sympathetic treatment. I argue that policies which do not emphasise containment are preferable. However for these to work the conditions which make Africa the most Aids-affected region in the world must be addressed. Poverty, inequality and underdevelopment must be seriously tackled if real progress is to be made in the fight against HIV/Aids.
HIV/AIDS
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- Arrow, K., 1987, ‘Rationalty[[ of Self and Others’, in R Horgath and M Reder, eds., Rational Choice: The Contrast between Economics and Psychology, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Caldwell, J., Caldwell P. and Quiggins, P., 1989, The Social Context of Aids in Sub-Saharan Africa’, Population and Development Review, Vol.
- , No. 2, pp.185-234.
- Caldwell, J. Caldwell, P., 1996, ‘The African Aids Epidemic’, Scientific American, Vol. 274, No. 3, pp. 62-68.
- Gage-Brown, A and Meekers, D., ‘Sex, Contraception and Childbearing before Marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa’, International Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. ?.
- Gould, P., 1993, The Slow Plague. Oxford: Blackwell.
- Green, E., 1994, Aids and STDs in Africa, Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
- Hughes, S. and Malila, I., 1996, Messages from the Urban Environment: The Social Construction of HIV/Aids in Botswana, Paper presented at the Nineteenth SAUSSC Conference, Mmabatho, South Africa. 1-6th December.
- Hunt, C., 1989, ‘Migrant Labour and Sexually Transmitted Disease: Aids in Africa’, Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp 353-373.
- Jackson, H. and Pitts, M., 1991, ‘Company Policy on Aids in Zimbabwe’, Journal of Social Development in Africa, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 53-70.
- Jackson, H., 1996, National Policy and HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe: Rationale, Process and Issues,Paper Presented at the Nineteenth SAUSSC Conference, Mmabatho, South Africa. 1-6th December.
- Jochelson, K., Mothibeli, M. and Leger, J., 1991, ‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Migrant Labour in South Africa’, International Journal of Health Services, Vol 21, No. 1, pp 157-173.
- Le Blanc, M., Meintel, D. and Piché, V., 1991, ‘The African Sexual System: Comment on Caldwell et al’, Population and Development Review, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 497-505.
- Mufune, P., Mwansa, L., and Osei-Hwedie, K., 1993, ‘Attitudes Towards Risky Sexual Behaviour and Reactions towards People Infected with HIV among Zambian Students’, International Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. ?.
- Odebiyi, A., and Vivekananda, F., 1991, ‘Aids in Third World Countries: Africa – What are the Alternatives?’, Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives, Vol. 10, No. 1/2, pp.91-99.
- Osei-Hwedie, B and Osei-Hwedie, K., 1996, The Social Context of HIV/Aids Policy in Southern Africa: Some Emerging Issues Paper Presented at the Nineteenth SAUSSC Conference, Mmabatho, South Africa. 1-6th December.
- Pateman, R., 1996, Racialised and Gendered Identities at a Teachers Training College in Zimbabwe, Paper delivered at the SASA Congress.
- Durban, South Africa, July.
- Philipson, T and Posner, R., 1995, ‘On the Microeconomics of Aids in Africa’, Population and Development Review, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 835-848
References
Arrow, K., 1987, ‘Rationalty[[ of Self and Others’, in R Horgath and M Reder, eds., Rational Choice: The Contrast between Economics and Psychology, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Caldwell, J., Caldwell P. and Quiggins, P., 1989, The Social Context of Aids in Sub-Saharan Africa’, Population and Development Review, Vol.
, No. 2, pp.185-234.
Caldwell, J. Caldwell, P., 1996, ‘The African Aids Epidemic’, Scientific American, Vol. 274, No. 3, pp. 62-68.
Gage-Brown, A and Meekers, D., ‘Sex, Contraception and Childbearing before Marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa’, International Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. ?.
Gould, P., 1993, The Slow Plague. Oxford: Blackwell.
Green, E., 1994, Aids and STDs in Africa, Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
Hughes, S. and Malila, I., 1996, Messages from the Urban Environment: The Social Construction of HIV/Aids in Botswana, Paper presented at the Nineteenth SAUSSC Conference, Mmabatho, South Africa. 1-6th December.
Hunt, C., 1989, ‘Migrant Labour and Sexually Transmitted Disease: Aids in Africa’, Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp 353-373.
Jackson, H. and Pitts, M., 1991, ‘Company Policy on Aids in Zimbabwe’, Journal of Social Development in Africa, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 53-70.
Jackson, H., 1996, National Policy and HIV/Aids in Zimbabwe: Rationale, Process and Issues,Paper Presented at the Nineteenth SAUSSC Conference, Mmabatho, South Africa. 1-6th December.
Jochelson, K., Mothibeli, M. and Leger, J., 1991, ‘Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Migrant Labour in South Africa’, International Journal of Health Services, Vol 21, No. 1, pp 157-173.
Le Blanc, M., Meintel, D. and Piché, V., 1991, ‘The African Sexual System: Comment on Caldwell et al’, Population and Development Review, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 497-505.
Mufune, P., Mwansa, L., and Osei-Hwedie, K., 1993, ‘Attitudes Towards Risky Sexual Behaviour and Reactions towards People Infected with HIV among Zambian Students’, International Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. ?.
Odebiyi, A., and Vivekananda, F., 1991, ‘Aids in Third World Countries: Africa – What are the Alternatives?’, Scandinavian Journal of Development Alternatives, Vol. 10, No. 1/2, pp.91-99.
Osei-Hwedie, B and Osei-Hwedie, K., 1996, The Social Context of HIV/Aids Policy in Southern Africa: Some Emerging Issues Paper Presented at the Nineteenth SAUSSC Conference, Mmabatho, South Africa. 1-6th December.
Pateman, R., 1996, Racialised and Gendered Identities at a Teachers Training College in Zimbabwe, Paper delivered at the SASA Congress.
Durban, South Africa, July.
Philipson, T and Posner, R., 1995, ‘On the Microeconomics of Aids in Africa’, Population and Development Review, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 835-848