Church representatives' perspectives on masculinities in the context of HIV: the case of the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa.
Despite a growing body of literature related to church leaders challenging dominant norms of masculinities that may enable the spread of HIV, research on masculinity issues among African church representatives who are policy makers is scarce. The objectives of this study were to explore the perspectives on masculinities held by church representatives within the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA) and to identify strategies they used to transform masculinities in their respective churches. Qualitative interviews were carried out with 14 church representatives belonging to the EHAIA International Reference Group. These interviews were analysed using thematic analysis and four themes were identified: "barriers to challenge masculinities" may contribute to the spread of HIV; "counterproductive conservative church leadership" fails to challenge dominant forms of masculinities; "facilitators to challenge masculinities" perceived as slowly changing men and "an evolving hope for gender equality" would be perceived in certain marital relationships. The latter two were viewed as positive approaches resulting from masculinity workshops and male priests disclosing their HIV-positive status. This research highlights strategies that may help male church-goers challenge masculinities, support gender equality and, improve the lives of men and women in the context of HIV.
a World Council of Churches, The Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa , Regional Coordination Office for Central Africa , Kinshasa , Democratic Republic of Congo.|b Division of Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine , Umeå University , Umeå , Sweden.|c Department of Nursing , Umeå University , Umeå , Sweden.
Hendrew G
HG
Lusey
c Department of Nursing , Umeå University , Umeå , Sweden.
Monica
M
Christianson
b Division of Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine , Umeå University , Umeå , Sweden.
Miguel San
MS
Sebastian
c Department of Nursing , Umeå University , Umeå , Sweden.
Kerstin E
KE
Edin
D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D002835:Christianity; D002977:Clergy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D057228:Masculinity; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Africa; EHAIA; HIV transmission; church representatives; gender; masculinities