HIV and violence are two major public health problems increasingly shown to be connected and relevant to international mental health issues and HIV-related services. Qualitative research is important due to the dearth of literature on this association in developing countries, cultural influences on mental health syndromes and presentations, and the sensitive nature of the topic. The study presented in this paper sought to investigate the mental health issues of an HIV-affected population of women and children in Lusaka, Zambia, through a systematic qualitative study. Two qualitative methods resulted in the identification of three major problems for women: domestic violence (DV), depression-like syndrome, and alcohol abuse; and children: defilement, DV, and behavior problems. DV and sexual abuse were found to be closely linked to HIV and alcohol abuse. This study shows the local perspective of the overlap between violence and HIV. Results are discussed in relation to the need for violence and abuse to be addressed as HIV services are implemented in sub-Saharan Africa. KeywordsViolence/abuse; HIV/AIDS; qualitative; women; children There is growing evidence of the connection between HIV infection and domestic violence (DV) or interpersonal violence toward women and children (Dunkle et al., 2004;Koenig and Moore, 2000;Maman et al., 2000;Zierler and Krieger, 1997). Studies have reported that violence is highly prevalent in HIV-infected women (Cohen et al., 2000;Vlahov et al., 1998;Zierler et al., 1996). Researchers have proposed several hypotheses around this association. Some studies from the US and sub-Saharan Africa suggest that women who disclose HIV serostatus to partners may be at increased risk for violence (Gielen et al., 1997;Rothenberg et al., 1995;Temmerman et al., 1995 HIV were significantly more likely to have had a physically violent partner at some time, and to have experienced physical and/or sexual violence with a current partner (Maman et al., 2002). Another act of violence associated with increased HIV risk is child sexual abuse (CSA), where a higher proportion of CSA was found in HIV-positive women than in the general population (Koenig and Clark, 2004). Child sexual abuse often leads to substance use, multiple sexual partners, and/or a lack of self-protective behaviors, which are all risk factors for HIV infection (Wingood and DiClemente, 1997;Zierler et al., 1991). A review paper on the intersection between HIV and violence discusses the directions for future research, suggesting that qualitative research is needed to help describe the contextual factors that connect HIV and violence experienced in adulthood and childhood (Maman et al., 2000).This study investigates the mental health issues of an HIV-affected population of women and children in Lusaka, Zambia. This was designed as a systematic qualitative study for a number of reasons. First, there is a dearth of knowledge on cross-cultural conceptualization of mental health problems in sub-Saharan Africa in general, and specifically rel...

This paper is based on a study of thirty‐one children who lost their parent(s) in the course of armed conflict in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India, and were put in various orphanages across the state. The qualitative research method was employed in order to examine and understand and the nature of problems faced by these children. It explores ways in which these children seek to come to terms with the reality, and highlights the importance and relevance of incorporating their views in programmes meant for their rehabilitation and reintegration into the society.

Depression has been identified as the most prevalent mental disorder worldwide. Due to the stigma of mental illness, the population remains unidentified, undiagnosed, and untreated. Various studies have been carried out to detect and track depression following symptoms of dichotomous thinking, absolutist thinking, linguistic markers, and linguistic behavior. However, there is little study focused on the linguistic behavior of bilingual and multilingual with anxiety and depression. This chapter aims to identify the bi-multilingual linguistic markers by analyzing the recorded verbal content of depressive discourse resulting from life situations and stressors causing anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Different contextual domains of word usage, content words, function words (pronouns), and negative valance words have been identified as indicators of psychological process affecting cognitive behavior, emotional health, and mental illness. These findings are discussed within the framework of Beck's model of depression to support the linguistic connection to mental illness-depression.

Depression has been identified as the most prevalent mental disorder worldwide. Due to the stigma of mental illness, the population remains unidentified, undiagnosed, and untreated. Various studies have been carried out to detect and track depression following symptoms of dichotomous thinking, absolutist thinking, linguistic markers, and linguistic behavior. However, there is little study focused on the linguistic behavior of bilingual and multilingual with anxiety and depression. This chapter aims to identify the bi-multilingual linguistic markers by analyzing the recorded verbal content of depressive discourse resulting from life situations and stressors causing anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Different contextual domains of word usage, content words, function words (pronouns), and negative valance words have been identified as indicators of psychological process affecting cognitive behavior, emotional health, and mental illness. These findings are discussed within the framework of Beck's model of depression to support the linguistic connection to mental illness-depression.

Invisible social groups are systematically left out of the process of development and have to make choices that are predetermined. Research suggests that the tribal and nomadic communities have been majorly affected by such processes. Nat, a peripatetic nomadic tribe in India has undergone similar exclusionary process. However, they continue to survive as a social group and maintain their distinguishing character. This study, therefore, is an attempt to understand their survival within the mainstream society by systematically analysing the following sociocultural attributes: identity construction, education and mobility, and multi-religious belonging. The Nat of Paschim Champaran, in the state of Bihar in India, were the focus of the study. Data was collected from 30 respondents and analysed by applying narrative inquiry. The findings suggest that their professional identity as acrobats continues to define their distinctiveness even when a few have chosen to shift towards other forms of livelihood. This distinctiveness continues to negatively influence their access to education and as a result no major change is witnessed in terms of social mobility of the group. However, it is observed that they have intelligently assimilated themselves within the popular culture by adopting multiple identities with respect to religion and which are activated for diverse purposes and at different times.