Myths about HIV and AIDS among serodiscordant couples in Malawi

摘要

Purpose: The paper reports on research that uncovered myths about HIV and AIDS held byudserodiscordant couples in Malawi, and the sources of these myths. The paper reflects on howudthe myths affect serodiscordant couples’ engagement with HIV and AIDS information.ududDesignudVan Manen's (1997) approach to analysis of phenomenological data is used to analyse data from indepthudinterviews conducted in Malawi with 21 serodiscordant couples and 3 individuals who hadudseparated from their partners because of serodiscordance.ududFindingsudSerodiscordant couples in Malawi believe and hold on to some inaccurate HIV and AIDS informationudthat can be seen as ‘myths’. Some of these myths are perpetuated by official HIV and AIDS informationudwhen it is translated into the local languages. Other myths derive from social norms of the societiesudwhere the couples live.ududPractical implications: The findings of this paper have practical implications for how HIV and AIDSudinformation providers should engage with target audiences to understand the origins of the myths theyudhold. The findings also imply that some myths have technical, religious, moral and cultural bases whichudneed to be addressed before challenging the myth itself.ududOriginality/Value: Using real-life descriptions of experiences of HIV and AIDS information provided byudserodiscordant couples, the authors reveal how myths can affect engagement with the information. Theudauthors make recommendations on how to address myths in ways that contribute to a positiveudexperience of HIV and AIDS information by serodiscordant couples