Kraly, Ellen Percy, Parrish, Lesley*, and Pons, Alex*. Paper presentation at AAG 2011.
Abstract:
As a collaborative project with Bwindi Community Hospital, this research
reveals dimensions of stigma associated with HIV/AIDS in communities in
southwest Uganda. A goal of the hospital is to promote HIV testing,
diagnosis and treatment by identifying and addressing barriers to
testing which are both geographic and social. To amplify the
interpretation of survey data (including regional and national data) on
HIV/AIDS a series of focus group discussions were conducted in 2010
concerning social-spatial dimensions of stigma associated with the
disease. The research design facilitated the comparison of men and
women who are HIV positive, community members and caregivers. Themes
included community perceptions of the disease; characterization of the
disease; attitudes and behaviors toward persons, notably children, known
or believed to have the disease; the effect of the disease on marital
and extended family relationships; and gendered dimensions of stigma.
Emergent themes include issues of marginalization, blame, denial and
avoidance of both diagnosis and treatment, anticipation of death and
family assets, and ways that personal privacy is challenged in community
spaces and social and economic dynamics, among others. Results of this
research have implications for both the evaluation, design of clinical
and community outreach programs of the hospital as well as social
geographic research concerning vulnerability to infection and
socio-spatial barriers to both diagnosis and treatment in rural areas.
Provision of supplies such as the basic care package and the jerry can
therein by international donors reveals a global source of the local
stigma of HIV/AIDS.