A Shock to the System: HIV among Older African Women in Zimbabwe

Ndakaitei Chikonzo; Asta Rau; Jan K. Coetzee; Anne Ryen; Florian Elliker; Amanda Young-Hauser

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.14.4.09

Authors

Ndakaitei Chikonzo Ndakaitei Chikonzo, Asta Rau, Jan K. Coetzee - University of the Free State, South Africa
Asta Rau
Jan K. Coetzee
Anne Ryen University of Agder, Norway
Florian Elliker University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, University of the Free State, South Africa
Amanda Young-Hauser Massey University, New Zealand, University of the Free State, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.14.4.09

Keywords:

HIV, Lifeworld, Older Women, Reality Shock, Paradigm Shift, Zimbabwe

Abstract

HIV remains a threat to the ordinary everyday life of older woman in African society. In what can be called “a reality shock,” HIV challenges most of the ordinary everyday endeavors in conservative African societies as it imposes new Western prevention, treatment, and health-management methods over long-held African traditions. The reality of the “Western” HIV epidemic, and its impact on the “African” ordinary everyday life, demands that the infected undergo a paradigm shift in order for them to live harmoniously within their society. This calls for a re-examination of traditional values and a strong sense of responsibility, courage, and determination to remain relevant and not be considered odd in one’s community, especially as one grows old with the virus. The study, which focuses on the experiences of women from the Manicaland Province in Zimbabwe who are aging with HIV, observes that growing old with an HIV infection fosters forms of inner strength and wisdom that enable the infected to disregard some of the unquestioned traditions and employ effective ways of living well with the life-threatening condition.

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Author Biographies

Ndakaitei Chikonzo, Ndakaitei Chikonzo, Asta Rau, Jan K. Coetzee - University of the Free State, South Africa

Ndakaitei Chikonzo obtained her Master’s degree in the program The Narrative Study of Lives, Department of Sociology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Asta Rau

Asta Rau is the outgoing Director of the Centre for Health Systems Research & Development at the University of the Free State, South Africa. She works in a range of qualitative and mixed methods designs and currently leads a project in partnership with the University of Antwerp on HIV and TB stigma among healthcare workers.

Jan K. Coetzee

Jan K. Coetzee is a Senior Professor of Sociology and Director of the program The Narrative Study of Lives i n t he Department of Sociology at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He specializes in qualitative sociology and serves on several international advisory boards.

Anne Ryen, University of Agder, Norway

Anne Ryen is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.

Florian Elliker, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, University of the Free State, South Africa

Florian Elliker is a Research Fellow in the program The Narrative Study of Lives, Department of Sociology at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He is also a Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Sociology, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Amanda Young-Hauser, Massey University, New Zealand, University of the Free State, South Africa

Amanda Young-Hauser is a Research Fellow in the program The Narrative Study of Lives in the Department of Sociology at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. She currently works with the Ending Poverty and Inequality cluster (EPIC) at the School of Psychology, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.

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