Risky traditional practices and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: the case of Chiota community in Zimbabwe.
The objective of this study was to explore cultural practices that could expose babies to HIV infection during the postnatal period in Chiota community in Zimbabwe. Purposively selected and gender disaggregated members of the community (n = 231) were informants to 23 focus group discussions and 8 semi-structured key-informant interviews. Data were analysed thematically. Emerging themes relating to risky practices were rituals surrounding open fontanelle, toning of child's sexual libido, initiation of sex after childbirth, treatment of eye and ear infections, tongue-tie and pre-mastication. These practices exposed babies to bodily fluids such as saliva, breast milk, vaginal fluids, pre-cum and semen which in turn put the babies at low to high risk of contracting HIV. This paper discusses implications for these risky practices in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. There is, therefore, need for studies to establish the prevalence of these practices.
a Department of Community Medicine , College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe , Box A178, Avondale, Harare , Zimbabwe.
Zibusiso
Z
Nyati-Jokomo
a Department of Community Medicine , College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe , Box A178, Avondale, Harare , Zimbabwe.
James
J
January
b Sociology Department , University of Zimbabwe , Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare , Zimbabwe.
Watch
W
Ruparanganda
c Department of Peadiatrics and Child Health , College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe , Box A178, Avondale, Harare , Zimbabwe.
Inam
I
Chitsike
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001826:Body Fluids; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D002648:Child; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012463:Saliva; D012661:Semen; D055815:Young Adult; D015030:Zimbabwe
HIV; Zimbabwe; culture; risky practices