ABSTRACT
Whereas HIV/AIDS has been largely explained and addressed based on the biomedical and African permissive sexuality thesis perspectives; they are not exhaustive. This paper argues that a meaningful life discourse complements the existing approaches to improve our understanding of the reality of HIV/AIDS. Both of the older discourses have resulted into different practices in the livelihoods promotion processes of the people. The paper tries to explain these practices and how have they influenced people's livelihoods promotion processes. The study is conducted in a highly HIV/AIDS affected area; using the life stories; which are analysed through content analysis. The results indicate that there are different practices according to the different discourses. The article concludes by arguing that looking at the practices and their intentions; some people have been shaped to promote HIV/AIDS; others to suppress it; others to alleviate it; and others to collaborate the more in general community livelihoods promotion processes. Key words: HIV/AIDS discourse; social arena; strategic actors; strategic rationalities; coping mechanisms; adaptive mechanisms; organising practices
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Address , HIV Infections , Life Style , Rural Health Services , SexualityABSTRACT
"Kagera is one of the areas considered to be an epicentre of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Tanzania. This has been due to linking HIV/AIDS and the cross-border trade between Uganda and Tanzania; an activity that was due to lack of essential commodities after the Uganda-Tanzania War of 1978-1981. In a survey in the landing sites of Lake Victoria; where one of the elements is to know the state of HIV/AIDS; it is found out that people are giving up in their struggle against HIV/AIDS; a situation that leads to the perception of contracting HIV/AIDS being an ""occupational hazard"". As the African sexual permissiveness theory has been at the back of the bio-medical discourse and the eventual behavioural change paradigms in guiding HIV/AIDS interventions; this article proposes change of discourse by having the meaningful life discourse in HIV/AIDS interventions."