Women and AIDS Support Network: mutual support to change community norms.

Publisher: Published by the Programme with the editorial and technical collaboration of the Royal Tropical Institute in the Netherlands Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 9007757 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 1013-7785 (Print) Linking ISSN: 10137785 NLM ISO Abbreviation: AIDS Health Promot Exch

Original Publication: [Geneva, Switzerland : Published by the Programme with the editorial and technical collaboration of the Royal Tropical Institute in the Netherlands, -1994.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome* ; Culture* ; Evaluation Studies as Topic* ; Mass Media* ; Prejudice* ; Sexual Partners* ; Social Change* ; Social Support*; Africa ; Africa South of the Sahara ; Africa, Eastern ; Behavior ; Communication ; Developing Countries ; Disease ; Family Characteristics ; HIV Infections ; Interpersonal Relations ; Sexual Behavior ; Social Problems ; Virus Diseases ; Zimbabwe

Indexing Agency: PIP Local ID #: 080778. Indexing Agency: POP Local ID #: 00220863.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome--women*; Africa; Africa South Of The Sahara; Behavior; Communication; Critique*; Culture*; Developing Countries; Diseases; Eastern Africa; English Speaking Africa; Family And Household; Folk Media*; Friends And Relatives; Hiv Infections; Mass Media; Multiple Partners*; Sex Behavior; Sex Discrimination*; Sexual Partners; Social Change*; Social Discrimination*; Social Networks--women*; Social Problems; Viral Diseases; Zimbabwe
Note: TJ: AIDS HEALTH PROMOTION EXCHANGE
Local Abstract: [PIP] A group of women formed the Women and AIDS Support Network (WASN) in Zimbabwe in June 1989 to improve women;s self-esteem and confidence and to bring about changes in attitudes and reactions toward AIDS-related problems. Both HIV-positive and HIV-negative women are WASN members. Women have limited control over sexual relationships. Women who know their partners are having intercourse with other women have few options, e.g., they may depend on their partners. A family council settles marital disagreements, but husbands do not always cooperate. Increased peer pressure could change societal acceptance of male infidelity to positive attitudes toward friendship and partnership in marriage. Therefore, WASN explores sexual relationships, especially control and power in them. These discussions should lead to affirmation of positive behavior. For example, men can promote condom use and monogamy to their male peers. They can also talk to their partners and their sons about HIV. Rural women should not blame urban women for their partner's HIV status. WASN also targets schoolgirls. Most early and some current messages of AIDS campaigns reinforces the dichotomy of good and bad women, supported by an earlier link between urban women and sexually transmitted diseases. Yet, they ignored men's role in HIV transmission. WASN speaks out against such negative images, e.g., dramas that depict the HIV-infected woman as evil and the innocent as good while the man worries about which woman infected him instead of feeling awful about infecting other women. WASN also addressee AIDS-related discrimination on the job and stigmatization issues. It now is conducting 2 research projects: information needs of urban and rural women and capacities of family support systems to assist HIV-positive women.

Date Created: 19920101 Date Completed: 19931109 Latest Revision: 20161021

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