Donkey Work: Women, Religion, and HIV/AIDS in Malawi

Abstract

Addressed in this article are the familial, cultural and religious influences on Malawi women that contribute to HIV/AIDS. Thirty-nine adult Malawi women representing voluntary assistance groups, religious groups, and university women participated in 3 focus groups in Malawi. Interview data were taped, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis. Findings revealed that multiple burdens in the lives of Malawi women resulting from poverty and responsibility for family members are made more onerous by religious institutions, sexual practices, and cultural beliefs. In conclusion, women's "donkey work" may result in at-risk sexual behavior as a means of survival, thus increasing the incidence of HIV/AIDS. Alleviating the burdens involves efforts from religious groups and restructuring of belief systems.

Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about HIV/AIDS of Sudanese and Bantu Somali immigrant women living in Omaha, Nebraska

“…In essence, having an education cannot be interpreted as having significant knowledge of HIV and its transmission. However, other studies have found a protective effect of a higher education level [36,62,64,65].…”

“…HIV is of increasing concern in women in Africa [36,37] and it could also be worse for women immigrants than for male immigrants [6,37]. Women face a range of HIV-related risk factors and vulnerabilities that men and boys do not, many of which are embedded in the social relations and economic realities of their societies [36,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. The vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection stems not simply from ignorance, but from their pervasive disempowerment [36,[38][39][40][42][43][44].…”

“…Given that HIV incidence is high in war-torn populations and subsequently in refugee populations [6,24,28,29,31], that Sudan has high rates of HIV infection, and that the HIV status for immigrants in Nebraska is not known, HIV may be more frequent among these immigrants, particularly women. HIV is of increasing concern in women in Africa [36,37] and it could also be worse for women immigrants than for male immigrants [6,37]. Women face a range of HIV-related risk factors and vulnerabilities that men and boys do not, many of which are embedded in the social relations and economic realities of their societies [36,[38][39][40][41][42][43][44].…”

Surviving Life as a Woman: A Critical Ethnography of Violence in the Lives of Female Domestic Workers in Malawi

“…The idea of "burden," or what we have termed "challenges," as being central to the lives of women in Malawi was identified by Rankin, Lindgren, Rankin, and Ng'oma (2005) in their study of the familial, cultural, and religious influences that contribute to HIV infection. These researchers identified poverty and lack of formal education as contributing factors to women's burden.…”

Stigmatizing Attitudes towards People Living With HIV/AIDS: A Comparative Analysis of Religious Adherents of Urban Sprawling and Industrial Communities of Ghana

“…In another study carried out in Southern Africa among Anglican Churches, fewer than 10 percent of the respondents agreed or partly agreed that PLWHA were not good Christians (HSRC, 2006). Rankin et al (2005) also in their work in Eastern and Southern Africa reported that many Christians and Moslems believe that living with HIV/AIDS implies promiscuous or sinful behaviours. There is therefore the attitude that PLWHA deserve their plight because they did not take precaution.…”