Studying HIV / AIDS and related issues of prostitution and death
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Date
2015-04-17
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University of Ghana
Abstract
The African AIDS epidemic gave rise to a need for new methods of
research and for modifications to existing methods because of the
great sensitivity of the subject. The sensitivity stemmed from the fact
that in sub-Saharan Africa, the main mode of transmission of the
disease is heterosexual relations. Meanwhile, traditional society
attempted to ensure that betrothed girls went to their husbands as
virgins and that wives remained sexually faithful. Thus, a woman
infected with AIDS was, and is still taken to be an accusation of prostitution
and a man infected was regard ed as promiscuous. The triad of
AIDS, prostitution and promiscuity made the issue even more sensitive
and raised many ethical, political and legal concerns when
studying them. Thankfully, the AIDS epidemic led to apprehension of
infection, and, on the part of many people who feel they may be in
danger, to a desire to discuss modes of trans mission and risks even if it
does mean divulging why they feel they are at risk and the nature of
that risk. It has thus become possible to research the social context of
AIDS and the related issues of prostitution and even death. The
challenges, ethical and methodological issues involved in studying
such sensitive topics have been explored. We further explore what it
means to investigate Ghanaian women engaged in prostitution, the
experiences of HIV / AIDS patients, their carers and how they perceive
their deaths. We argue that in order to achieve the aim of the study, the
processes and the methods involved in collecting the data are critical
and must be undertaken by experienced researchers. Strict anonymity
and confidentiality must be observed and community interest and
excitement must be kept to a minimum by not taking the whole
community into confidence. In addition, the authors reflect on the
emotions involved when researching into the issues. The authors
make suggestions for reducing the emotions inherent in studying
sensitive issues.
Description
School of social sciences colloquium
Keywords
AIDS, Sub-Saharan Africa, prostitution, promiscuity