The perceptions of Malawians living in Gauteng, South Africa, on the contributions of indigenous Malawian tribes' cultural practices in HIV infection in Malawi.
Date
2011-11-08
Authors
Munlo, Juliana
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Abstract
It is well known that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have affected millions of people throughout the world
and continues to affect people on a day to day basis. In Africa, sub-Saharan Africa is the
most affected. Malawi, one of the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa is no exception to
the growing trend and severity in HIV prevalence (Kalipeni& Ghosh, 2006).Like many
countries in Africa, cultural practices in Malawi have been criticised as contributing to the
spread of HIV and AIDS (Mwale, 2008). In recent years it has been recognised that in order
to understand the spread of HIV and AIDS it is imperative to address the economic, social,
cultural and political issues that lead to the contraction and spread of the virus. Hence there is
a growing realisation that more effective prevention strategies in response to HIV and AIDS
should focus on traditional, cultural, medical and political beliefs and practices as well as
perceptions of individual risk to HIV and AIDS (Lwanda, 2005).The proposed research seeks
to explore the perceptions of Malawians in the role and implications that cultural practices
play in promoting HIV infections in Malawi. A sample of 17 people representing both
genders from three tribes, namely the Yao, Tumbuka and Chewa participated in the study.
Participants were purposively selected on their knowledge of cultural practices and in their
being members of the tribe that was investigated. The research study was qualitative and a
case study research design was applied. Data was analysed using thematic content analysis.
The findings were therefore organised according to themes.
The findings were that a number of cultural practices of the Tumbukas, Chewas and Yaos
play a role in HIV and AIDS infections. Some of the cultural practices that were identified
included wife inheritance, polygamy, initiation ceremonies, the practice of fisi(hyena), the
practice of kulowafumbi(wiping of dust) and traditional marriages. The study found that
cultural practices accompanied by lack of education, poverty, gender inequalities, lack of
condom use and peer pressure among the youth promotes risky behavior that often leads to
HIV transmission and prevents behavioural change. It was identified that it would be
beneficial to educate elders of the community and influential people about HIV so that they
could teach community members about the link between HIV and AIDS and cultural practice,
and to find alternative ways to ensure that the cultural practice is safer, such as encouraging people to test before they practice wife inheritance. This study hopefully has the potential of
contributing to knowledge and awareness in the fields of social development and social work on the role that cultural practice plays in promoting risky behaviour,which leads to
contracting HIV infection among the Chewa, Tumbuka and Yao tribes. These findings could be useful in the creation of cultural-specific intervention programmes that are aimed at curbing HIV infection in Malawi and in many African countries where similar cultural
practices are practiced.
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Keywords
Culture, Cultural practices, HIV and AIDS, Poverty, Gender inequality