Religious Responses to AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Examination of Religious Congregations in Rural Malawi
This study attempts to explore the role religion may play in HIV transmission by focusing on the place of religious organizations in shaping the HIV risk behavior of individual congregants and addresses the question: How are religious congregations responding to the AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Sage Publications
2006
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In: |
Review of religious research
Year: 2006, Volume: 47, Issue: 3, Pages: 253-270 |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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Summary: | This study attempts to explore the role religion may play in HIV transmission by focusing on the place of religious organizations in shaping the HIV risk behavior of individual congregants and addresses the question: How are religious congregations responding to the AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa? Examining the specific context of rural Malawi, this study addresses three aspects of the link between religious organizations and the AIDS epidemic: 1) the extent to which religious leaders discuss HIV and related issues in their churches and mosques, 2) church/mosque-based organizational structures of accountability that may emphasize social control and help curb risky behavior among members, and 3) the activities of religious congregations in response to the AIDS crisis. Analysis of qualitative data collected in 2004 reveals that religious leaders discuss HIV and related issues frequently and provides evidence that congregations in rural Malawi are responding to AIDS-related issues by participating in activities like caring for the sick, sponsoring AIDS education programs for youth, and emphasizing the care of orphans as a religious responsibility. |
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ISSN: | 2211-4866 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Review of religious research
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