Context-specificity of violence: Physical, psychological, and social dimensions of harm during the Taliban’s insurgency (2007–2009) in Pakistan

Abstract

This article explores the Taliban’s insurgency (2007–2009) in Swat Valley (northern Pakistan) and the multiple meanings of violence in this context. A thematic analysis of data collected through qualitative fieldwork finds that the violence experienced by the victims was understood in three ways: physically as bodily harm, psychologically as terror and fear, and socially in the form of humiliation and dishonor. By delving into the experiences of civilians, the article offers a victim-centered approach and argues that instances of violence were characterized by harm as a “core referent.” It further argues for a context-specific understanding of harm and explicates that this notion is also determined by the local culture of Swat Valley, Pashtunwali.

Assessing the Impact of use of HIV self-testing on the incidence of HIV Infection in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…HIV self-testing, however, increase trust and the building of stronger relationships among concordant HIV-negative couples, and women felt empowered and were assertive when offering self-test kits to their partners [59]. Social harms may be context specific [60]. For this reason, there is the need to conduct studies in Nigeria and other low-and middle-income countries to identify social harms associated with the use of HIV self-testing, the impact this may have on the acceptability (uptake) of HIV self-testing and how to mitigate this impact.…”