A qualitative study of the impact of HIV/AIDS on agricultural households in Southeastern Uganda.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic threatens economic, social, and environmental sustainability throughout sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reports on a qualitative study exploring interrelationships between HIV/AIDS, labor availability, agricultural productivity, household resources, food consumption, and health status in rural southeastern Uganda. Respondents reported an increase in widow-and-orphan-headed households; labor shortages due to illness and caretaking; degradation of household resources from health-related expenses; loss of land tenure and assets following deaths, especially for widows and orphans; and changes in agricultural practices and productivity. Our study highlights a potential downward spiral of livelihood degradation for vulnerable households and suggests targeted interventions to improve sustainability.
Parker
Dawn C
DC
School of Planning, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada. dcparker@uwaterloo.ca
Jacobsen
Kathryn H
KH
Komwa
Maction K
MK
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D000383:Agriculture; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D010067:Ownership; D012424:Rural Population; D012924:Social Conditions; D014454:Uganda