scholarly journals HIV and AIDS in rural Tonga culture

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Ncube
Keyword(s):  
Pastoral Care ◽  
Religious Beliefs ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Medical Apparatus ◽  
Medical Aid ◽  
Pastoral Therapy ◽  
Culture Of Silence ◽  
First Diagnosis

Thirty-five years has gone by since the first diagnosis of HIV in Zimbabwe. Causes and reasons for the disease and its spread vary from place to place and from society to society. In some cases, the usage of needles and other medical apparatus is blamed for causing the disease. In some other instances, some religious beliefs are held responsible for the pandemic. However, it is a different case with the Tonga females of the Pashu community in Zimbabwe. The belief is that HIV among the Tonga females is perpetuated by some cultural practices and beliefs. The practices and beliefs pose a danger to the lives of the Tonga females from the age of infancy to that of elderly women. The culture of silence, loyalty and submissiveness has even aggravated the suffering of these people. The culture has denied them an opportunity to seek medical aid and pastoral therapy. Hope for life and a future for these people are inevitably lost. The study is, therefore, an effort to validate the assumed claim that the Tonga females are exposed to HIV by some of the cultural practices. It is also the purpose of this study to create a pastoral care methodology which will be used to view the problem from a pastoral perspective. A review of the alleged cultural practices is also the business of this study.

scholarly journals The influence of cultural practices on the HIV and AIDS pandemic in Zambia

2011 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nolipher Moyo ◽  
Julian C. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Significant Role ◽  
Rites Of Passage ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Bible Study ◽  
Culturally Sensitive ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
African Culture ◽  
Reformed Church ◽  
Aids Pandemic ◽  
Shed Light

Culture plays a significant role in people’s lives in Zambia and in Africa as a whole. Consequently, there is a need to take Zambian or African culture seriously in order to look at the salient elements of cultural practices in rites of passage that influence the spread of HIV and AIDS. This article analyses four rites of passage associated with birth, puberty, marriage and death. There are numerous rites of passage in Zambian culture. Some of these rites help to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS, whilst others exacerbate the spread of the virus. Using the Reformed Church in Zambia Bible Study Method of Subgroups, discussions were held that allowed victims of cultural practices to tell their stories using the narrative model. This article sought to shed light on cultural practices that exacerbate HIV and AIDS and more importantly, provide culturally sensitive alternatives to these harmful practices.

scholarly journals Globalisation and Difference: Cosmopolitanism Before the Nation-State

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akhil Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Early Modern ◽  
Religious Beliefs ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Historical Period ◽  
Nation State ◽  
Limited Perspective ◽  
The Indian Ocean

In this paper, I have tried to reflect on what cosmopolitanism might mean in a very different era of globalisation than the present. Although cosmopolitanism, as an expansive and sociable vision, is often contrasted with the geographically limited perspective and claustrophobic affinities of nationalism, the term originates in a historical period before the rise of nationalism in Europe. I argue that the residents of the civilisations around the Indian Ocean in the medieval and early modern world were cosmopolitan even by the standards of the high modernist meaning of the term. Not only did a range of people transact and translate across different languages, but they also knew how to conduct themselves in different cultural settings with people of different religious beliefs, while respecting the disparate religious, social, and cultural practices of their neighbours.

scholarly journals The African traditional religious landscape: An examination of the role of traditional leaders in the fight against HIV and AIDS in Chipinge, Zimbabwe

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Marashe
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Traditional Leaders ◽  
Aids Pandemic ◽  
Traditional Marriage ◽  
Donor Agencies ◽  
Religious Landscape

This study examines the role of traditional leaders, as custodians of culture, in the fight against infection with the HI virus and the AIDS pandemic in the Chipinge District of Zimbabwe. The research aims to assess traditional leaders� knowledge of HIV and AIDS and its causes. It also examines some traditional practices to determine whether they expose people to HIV and AIDS, and it evaluates the traditional leaders� roles in curbing the pandemic. From a phenomenological standpoint � and grounded in the African traditional religious landscape � the study uses a survey research design. A convenient sample of 18 participants for the study consisted of 3 chiefs and 5 headmen who completed a questionnaire as well as 5 village heads and 5 elders who were interviewed and involved in four focus-group discussions (FGDs) that provided a variety of insightful information. The study identifies promiscuity as a major cause of HIV infection in communities. The results show that traditional leaders discourage barika and kuputsa as being harmful traditional marriage practices. Furthermore, the study indicates that traditional leaders encourage behavioural change amongst the youth and adults alike to curb the spread of HIV and that the pandemic could possibly be contained if government fully empowered the traditional leaders. The research has value in attempting to minimise the spread of HIV if communities discontinue harmful cultural practices. Therefore, donor agencies involved in intervention projects concerning the HIV and AIDS pandemic and government should work closely with traditional leaders who wield considerable power in areas under their jurisdiction to arrest the spread of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in the Chipinge district in Zimbabwe.

Gender Dimensions of Aging Among Indigenous People

2018 ◽  
pp. 142-158
Author(s):  
Faisal Ahmmed
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Family System ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Living Situation ◽  
Elderly Males

Researchers view older people as a homogenous group where age is a leveler of characteristics. But factors such as gender, socio-economic background, family relationships and support, living situation, physical condition, cultural practices, etc. severely influence how a person will enjoy their later life. In Khasi Indigenous community women enjoy higher status than their counterparts. Due to a strong matriarchical family system, women become the owner of property inherently and husbands stay in wives' houses. This empowers women economically and family members show their loyalty to the head of the family who is a woman. During old age, women are well cared for by family members, and elderly males are sometimes neglected, which is totally opposite to the majority people of Bangladesh. Based on an ethnographic study, this chapter explains how customs work in the creation of a special later life experience among elderly women. It also explains the challenges faced by Khasi elderly people in getting access to modern medical facilities and other government supports as citizen of Bangladesh.

Deploying performance poetry in dispelling HIV and AIDS stigma: An applied theatre approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cletus Moyo ◽  
Nkululeko Sibanda
Keyword(s):  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Young Generation ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Speaking Out ◽  
Aids Stigma ◽  
Aids Pandemic ◽  
Performance Poetry ◽  
Applied Theatre ◽  
Culture Of Silence ◽  
The University

Abstract The article is based on an applied theatre project facilitated by Cletus Moyo at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa from 2009 to 2010. We argue that performance poetry deployed within an applied theatre paradigm has the potential to unlock the silence around HIV and AIDS issues in a way that opens up these issues for discussion and makes them accessible for exploration, even in contexts where speaking about these issues is taboo. The project targeted young people belonging to the age group that is most heavily hit by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Notably, the young generation is also more open to performance poetry as an artform, making it more appropriate in dealing with issues affecting them. Performance poetry is a language of emotions and an artform that emphasizes speaking out. These two qualities render performance poetry a powerful medium for addressing HIV and AIDS stigma, a phenomenon that is embedded in the culture of silence.

scholarly journals Sources of Information on HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health for Couples Living with HIV in Rural Southern Malawi

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belinda Chimphamba Gombachika ◽  
Ellen Chirwa ◽  
Address Malata ◽  
Alfred Maluwa
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Comprehensive Information ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Living With Hiv

With wider access to antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV are reconsidering their reproductive decisions: remarrying and having children. The purpose of the paper is to explore sources of information for reproductive decision used by couples living with HIV in patrilineal and matrilineal districts of Malawi. Data were collected from forty couples from July to December 2010. Our results illuminate five specific issues: some of the informants (1) remarry after divorce/death of a spouse, (2) establish new marriage relationship with spouses living with HIV, and (3) have children hence the need for information to base their decisions. There are (4) shared and interactive couple decisions, and (5) informal networks of people living with HIV are the main sources of information. In addition, in matrilineal community, cultural practices about remarriage set up structures that constrained information availability unlike in patrilineal community where information on sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and AIDS was disseminated during remarriage counselling. However, both sources are not able to provide comprehensive information due to complexity and lack of up to date information. Therefore, health workers should, offer people living with HIV comprehensive information that takes into consideration the cultural specificity of groups, and empower already existing and accepted local structures with sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and AIDS knowledge.

Recent Movements in Pastoral Theology

2000 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan De Jong Van Arkel
Keyword(s):  
Pastoral Care ◽  
Pastoral Theology ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Pastoral Work ◽  
Ethical Problems ◽  
Pastoral Therapy ◽  
Pastoral Counselling ◽  
Mutual Care ◽  
Theological Language ◽  
The Way

AbstractThe article maps the major trends and movements in the field of pastoral care and counselling and pastoral theology during the last ten years as they are reflected in publications. The areas which receive focused attention are the influence of and response to postmodern culture; renewed interest in ethical problems and the way these are attended to; the phenomenal contributions by feminist and womanist pastoral theologians; the much more prominent use of theological language rather than psychological jargon; renewed interest in the importance of pastoral anthropology; the recurring theme of spirituality; the attention given to the communal and contextual aspects of pastoral work; the effort to recognise the importance of making provision for congregational pastoral counselling; and the new emphasis on narrative and outcomes-based models of pastoral counselling. A model is proposed for pastoral work which recognises four distinct forms of care: mutual care, pastoral care, pastoral counselling and pastoral therapy.

Purification of Body and Soul for the Next Journey. Practices Surrounding Death and Dying Among Muslim Women

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaïma Ahaddour ◽  
Stef Van den Branden ◽  
Bert Broeckaert
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Religious Beliefs ◽  
Elderly Women ◽  
Death And Dying ◽  
Muslim Women ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Qualitative Empirical Research ◽  
Body And Soul ◽  
Moroccan Muslim Women

This study aims, first, to compare normative Islamic practices toward death and dying and actual practices of Moroccan Muslim women. Second, it seeks to compare the views and practices of middle-aged and elderly women. Qualitative empirical research was conducted with 30 middle-aged and elderly Moroccan Muslim women living in Antwerp (Belgium) and with 15 experts in the field. Our study shows that religious beliefs and worldview have a great impact on Muslims’ practices surrounding death and dying. More specifically, practices are strongly shaped by their eschatological beliefs. The rituals are perceived as preparations for the hereafter, entailing purification of both soul and body, and demonstrate the belief in a continued existence of the soul. We found striking similarities between our participants’ views and normative Islamic views. We did not find a more secular understanding of death and dying among the middle-aged women.

As One With Nature: Sputheast Asian Aesthetic Expressions | เป็นหนึ่ง เดียวกับธรรมชาติ: การแสดงออกทางสุนทรียะของชาวเอเชียตะวันออก เฉียงใต้

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Savage
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Religious Beliefs ◽  
Rites Of Passage ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
The Many

Given the many artistic manifestations in the region which range from architecture to wooden sculptures, one wonders whether there are some guiding aesthetic principles in Southeast Asia. Using food, tattoos, bas reliefs, paintings, textiles, pottery, and architecture, this article is concerned with the salient underpinnings of aesthetic displays in the region. Regional aesthetics manifests itself in many cultural practices ranging from royal traditions, spiritual rituals and practices and quotidian rites of passage. Aesthetic expressions drew their inspiration from nature, cosmic perceptions and religious beliefs. ภูมิภาคเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้เป็นภูมิภาคที่มีงานศิลปะที่หลากหลาย ไม่ว่าจะเป็นงานทางสถาปัตยกรรมไปจนถึง ประติมากรรมไม้ หลายคนอาจสงสัยว่าอะไรคือหลักสุนทรียภาพที่เป็นตัวก􀄬าหนดการมองความงามของธรรมชาติ หรืองานศิลปะของคนภายในภูมิภาค เพื่อตอบค􀄬าถามดังกล่าว บทความนี้จะใช้อาหาร รอยสัก ภาพนูนต􀄬่า ภาพวาด สิ่งทอ เครื่องปั้นดินเผา และสถาปัตยกรรม ในการแสดงถึงรากฐานส􀄬าคัญที่มีอิทธิพลต่อหลักสุนทรียภาพ นอกจากนี้ บทความต้องการแสดงให้เห็นว่า สุนทรียภาพของชาวเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ยังรวมไปถึงข้อปฏิบัติทางวัฒนธรรม ต่าง ๆ เช่น ขนบธรรมเนียมประเพณีของชนชั้นกษัตริย์ พิธีกรรมทางจิตวิญญาณ และพิธีกรรมเปลี่ยนผ่าน ซึ่งการ ปฏิบัติเหล่านี้ได้รับแรงบันดาลใจมาจากธรรมชาติ การรับรู้เกี่ยวกับจักรวาล และความเชื่อทางศาสนา

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