Women, Motherhood and Living with HIV/AIDS: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

323 Pages·2013·2.12 MB·English

by  Pranee Liamputtong (auth.)

Pranee Liamputtong Editor
Women,
Motherhood
and Living with
HIV/AIDS
A Cross-Cultural Perspective
Women, Motherhood and Living with HIV/AIDS

Pranee Liamputtong
Editor
Women, Motherhood
and Living with HIV/AIDS
A Cross-Cultural Perspective
Editor
Pranee Liamputtong
School of Public Health
La Trobe University
Bundoora, VIC , Australia
ISBN 978-94-007-5886-5 ISBN 978-94-007-5887-2 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5887-2
Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg New York London
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013934115
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of
the material is concerned, speci fi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation,
broadcasting, reproduction on micro fi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information
storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection
with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied speci fi cally for the purpose of being entered and
executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this
publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s
location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Permissions
for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center. Violations are liable to
prosecution under the respective Copyright Law.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication
does not imply, even in the absence of a speci fi c statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant
protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
While the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of
publication, neither the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for
any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with
respect to the material contained herein.
Printed on acid-free paper
Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
To my parents: Saeng and Yindee
Liamputtong
and
To my children: Zoe Sanipreeya and Emma
Inturatana Rice

Preface
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has entered its fourth decade and continues to be a major
public health problem worldwide. Ever since the diagnosis of the fi rst case of AIDS
in the early 1980s, the epidemic has risen rapidly, and although earlier on it has
affected people ranging from injecting drug users and sex workers to heterosexual
men, it has now affected a large number of women around the globe. Of the 34 million
people worldwide who are living with HIV/AIDS in 2010, half were women. In
recent times, we have witnessed more attention being given to the lived experiences
of HIV-positive women, many of whom are also mothers of young children.
Up until now, many articles have been written to portray women who are mothers
and living with HIV/AIDS in different parts of the world. But, to my knowledge,
there has not been any recent book which attempts to put together results from
empirical research relating to women, motherhood and living with HIV/AIDS. This
book is formed with the intention to fi ll this gap. The focus of this text is on issues
relevant to women, motherhood and living with HIV/AIDS which have occurred to
individual women in different parts of the globe. The book comprises chapters
written by researchers who carry out their research in different parts of the world.
Each chapter contains empirical information which is based on real-life situations.
This can be used as evidence for health-care providers to implement socially and
culturally appropriate services to assist women who are living with HIV/AIDS in
many societies. This body of work is signi fi cant as it has huge implications for policy
makers and practitioners in the areas of HIV/AIDS. The book also contributes to the
global debate regarding women, motherhood and HIV/AIDS.
From a cross-cultural perspective, W omen, Motherhood and Living with HIV/
AIDS: A Cross-Cultural Perspective will be of value to health-care providers who
are interested in working with women who are mothers and living with HIV/AIDS.
In particular, it will assist health workers in community health centers and hospitals
in understanding issues related to womanhood, motherhood and HIV/AIDS and
hence provide culturally sensitive health care to women from different social and
cultural backgrounds who are mothers and living with HIV/AIDS. The volume will
also attract many lay readers and professional groups in organizations which are
interested in a cross-cultural perspective of women who are mothers and living with
vii
viii Preface
HIV/AIDS. The book provides a valuable reference for students and lecturers in
courses like women’s studies, anthropology, sociology, social work, nursing, public
health and medicine.
In constructing a book like this, it is impossible to include all groups and from all
parts of the world. As readers will see, the volume has missed the inclusion of many
groups of women living with HIV/AIDS who deserve to be known and understood.
However, I have attempted to include as many groups of women as possible. What
is included in this volume will, no doubt, provide crucial information which would
not be easily accessible elsewhere.
Like any other publication, this book could not have been possible without
assistance from others. First, I wish to express my gratitude to Esther Otten of
Springer, who believed in the value of this book and contracted me to edit it. My
thanks also go to Rosemary Oakes and Lee Koh who edited some chapters for me.
But most importantly, I wish to express my sincere thanks to all the contributors in
the volume who helped to make this book possible. Most of you worked so hard
to meet my timetable and to endure my endless e-mails getting chapters from you.
I hope that this journey has been a positive one for all of you.
This book is dedicated to my parents who brought their children up amidst
poverty in Thailand. They believed that only education would improve the lives of
their children and hence worked hard to send us to school. I have made my career thus
far because of their beliefs and the opportunity that they both have provided for me.
I thank them profoundly. I also dedicate this book to my two daughters who have
been part of my life and for understanding the ongoing busy life of their mother.
Melbourne Pranee Liamputtong
About the Editor
Pranee Liamputtong holds a personal chair in public health at the School of Public
Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Pranee has previously taught in
the School of Sociology and Anthropology and worked as a public health research
fellow at the Centre for the Study of Mothers’ and Children’s Health, La Trobe
University. Pranee has a particular interest in issues related to cultural and social
in fl uences on childbearing, childrearing and women’s reproductive and sexual health.
She has published several books and a large number of papers in these areas.
Her books in the health area include: M aternity and reproductive health in Asian
societies (with Lenore Manderson, Harwood Academic Press, 1996); H mong
women and reproduction (Bergin & Garvey, 2000); Coming of age in South and
Southeast Asia: Youth, courtship and sexuality (with Lenore Manderson, Curzon
Press, 2002); H ealth, social change and communities (with Heather Gardner, Oxford
University Press, 2003); T he journey of becoming a mother amongst women in
northern Thailand (Lexington Books, 2007); Reproduction, childbearing and
motherhood: A cross-cultural perspective (Nova Science, 2007); C hildrearing and
infant care: A cross-cultural perspective (Nova Science, 2007); and Community,
health and population (with Sansnee Jirojwong, Oxford University Press, 2008). Her
most recent books include I nfant feeding practices: A cross-cultural perspective
(Springer, 2010); Motherhood and postnatal depression: Narratives of women and
their partners , for Springer (with Carolyn Westall, Springer, 2011); and H ealth,
illness and well-being: Perspectives and social determinants (with Rebecca Fanany
and Glenda Verrinder, Oxford University Press, 2012).
Pranee has also published several method books. Her fi rst method book is titled
Qualitative research methods: A health focus (with Douglas Ezzy, Oxford University
Press, 1999, reprinted in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004), and the second edition of
this book is titled Q ualitative research methods (2005). This book is now in its
fourth edition, and she is the sole author of this edition (Liamputtong 2013). Other
method books include: Health research in cyberspace: Methodological, practical
and personal issues (Nova Science, 2006); R esearching the vulnerable: A guide to
sensitive research methods (Sage, 2007); Undertaking sensitive research: Managing
boundaries, emotions and risk (with Virginia Dickson-Swift and Erica James,
ix