Culture in Action

This chapter examines cultural reactions to the social response to HIV/AIDS in Africa. It suggests that political economy issues explain HIV patterns in Africa far more than do cultural issues. It illustrates some of the ways in which what is often loosely referred to as “culture” operates in a number of African settings where AIDS is common. It explains that among the most important problems facing Africans in controlling the spread of HIV are widespread poverty and deprivation, inequality of access to opportunities for achieving a healthy and adequate lifestyle, and a lack of access to...

This chapter examines cultural reactions to the social response to HIV/AIDS in Africa. It suggests that political economy issues explain HIV patterns in Africa far more than do cultural issues. It illustrates some of the ways in which what is often loosely referred to as “culture” operates in a number of African settings where AIDS is common. It explains that among the most important problems facing Africans in controlling the spread of HIV are widespread poverty and deprivation, inequality of access to opportunities for achieving a healthy and adequate lifestyle, and a lack of access to public resources for the treatment of ill-health and disease.