Promises and Challenges of Faith-Based AIDS Care and Support in Mozambique

Agadjanian, Victor; Sen, Somnath

doi:10.2105/ajph.2006.085662

Cited by 44 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Results also indicate that regional HIV strategies need to proactively build the capacity of religious congregations and the schools they manage in regards to HIV transmission, prevention, and behavior modification (Agadjanian, 2005;Agadjanian & Sen, 2007;Pfeiffer, 2007). While beginning to occur in the rural Catholic schools of Central Mozambique (A. Gomes, personal communication, May 13, 2009), the need exists to focus on the leadership of these religious institutions because of the high level of mistrust generated from not being included in the initial national HIV prevention strategic planning initiatives (Pfeiffer, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While beginning to occur in the rural Catholic schools of Central Mozambique (A. Gomes, personal communication, May 13, 2009), the need exists to focus on the leadership of these religious institutions because of the high level of mistrust generated from not being included in the initial national HIV prevention strategic planning initiatives (Pfeiffer, 2004). Future programs should also target religious congregations to build trust and develop HIV prevention strategies (CNCS, 2004;Green, 2003;Largarde et al, 2000;Pfeiffer, 2004) involving culturally relevant training related to cultural understandings of HIV transmission and prevention, not just transmitting generic information (Agadjanian, 2005;Agadjanian & Sen, 2007;Pfeiffer, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of religious affiliation and education on HIV knowledge and HIV-related sexual behaviors among unmarried youth in rural central Mozambique

2010

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The interactions between religious affiliation, education, HIV knowledge, and HIV-related sexual behaviors among African church youth are poorly understood. In this socio-demographic study, 522 unmarried youth 12-28 years old in rural central Mozambique were surveyed with a structured questionnaire. Using binary logistic regression analysis, we used religious affiliation and education to measure influence on (1) HIV transmission and prevention knowledge and attitudes and (2) HIV-related sexual behaviors among youth. Religiously affiliated males were more likely than non-religious males to know when a condom should be used, respond correctly to HIV transmission questions and respond with less stigma to HIV-related scenarios. Increased levels of education among males corresponded significantly to increased knowledge of condom usage and HIV prevention strategies and less likelihood to respond with stigma. Only education levels influenced young female responses. Religious affiliation and education had minimal effects on sexual activity, condom usage, and multiple partnerships. African Independent Church/Zionist males were 1.6 times more likely to be sexually inexperienced than non-religious males but were also significantly less likely to use condoms (0.23, p=0.024). Non-religious youth were most likely to have visited sex workers and did not use condoms. These results suggest that religious affiliation, possibly as the result of educational opportunities afforded by religious-affiliated schools, is contributing to increased HIV transmission and prevention knowledge among youth in rural Central Mozambique but not influencing HIV-related sexual behavior. The need exists to strengthen the capacity of religious congregations to teach about HIV/AIDS and target non-religious youth with HIV transmission and prevention information.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of religious affiliation and education on HIV knowledge and HIV-related sexual behaviors among unmarried youth in rural central Mozambique

2010

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“…In contrast, leaders from the Pentecostal churches and the Muslim groups expressed more severe messages about God's punishment as well as some stigmatising remarks about PLHIV. Agadjanian and Sen (2007) noted similar differences between mainstream and Pentecostal denominations in Mozambique. Despite different theologies and traditions, none of the religious organisations at the national or local levels included the promotion of condoms in their prevention messages although a few individuals broke away from their church or mosque in promoting them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Religious leaders' response to AIDS in Nigeria

Ucheaga

Hartwig²

2010

Global Public Health

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Increasingly, faith-based organisations are being asked to participate in HIV prevention and care activities. This paper presents formative research on HIV/AIDS prevention messages, activities and policies within six religious institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria, at urban and rural sites. Data collection methods included a review of written HIV policies gathered from national church and mosque offices and 48 key informant interviews. The study highlights differences in messages between mainstream and Pentecostal Christians and Muslims. Although all groups stated a core message of abstinence outside marriage and faithfulness within marriage, Pentecostal churches tended to have more messages of punishment and condemnation for people infected with HIV. Urban churches/mosques tended to have more HIV resources and programmes. Attitudes towards condom use varied by denomination and individual; although few saw a role for religious institutions to promote condoms there were exceptions voiced. These findings indicate that religious organisations are already playing a role in HIV prevention but their responses are not uniform. Public health organisations and policy-makers should be aware of these denominational differences as they engage with religious institutions and leaders in HIV prevention and care.

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“…The scholarly literature on the role of ROs in mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS is generally less celebratory, and studies have identified several problematic areas that are inherent to most ROs or vary in importance across different types of ROs (Agadjanian and Sen 2007, Casale et al 2010, Francis and Liverpool 2009, Haddad et al 2008, Trinitapoli 2009, Trinitapoli and Regnerus 2006). Thus it has been argued that ROs may contribute to HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination (Keikelame et al 2010, Mbilinyi and Kaihula 2000.…”

Section: Background and Conceptual Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fighting down the scourge, building up the church: Organisational constraints in religious involvement with HIV/AIDS in Mozambique

Agadjanian

Menjívar

2011

Global Public Health

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Religious organisations (ROs) are often said to play an important role in mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS. Yet, limitations of that role have also been acknowledged. While most of the literature has focused on ideological and individual-level implications of religion for HIV/AIDS, in this study, we shift the focus to the organisational factors that shape and constrain ROs' involvement in both HIV prevention and HIV/AIDS care and support. Using primarily qualitative data collected in a predominantly Christian area in southern Mozambique, we show that the organisational vitality of a RO as determined by its membership size and its relationships with other churches and with governmental and non-governmental agencies is a pervasive priority of RO leaders. Therefore, all church activities, including those related to HIV/AIDS, are instrumentalised by the religious leadership to achieve the church's organisational aims—maintaining and growing its membership, safeguarding the often precarious coexistence with other churches, and enhancing its standing vis-à-vis the government and powerful non-governmental organisations. As a result, the effectiveness of ROs' involvement in HIV/AIDS prevention and assistance is often compromised.

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Promises and Challenges of Faith-Based AIDS Care and Support in Mozambique

Abstract: Policy efforts to involve religious organizations in provision of HIV/AIDS-related assistance should take into account that organization's resources, institutional goals, and social characteristics.

Cited by 44 publications

References 9 publications

Influence of religious affiliation and education on HIV knowledge and HIV-related sexual behaviors among unmarried youth in rural central Mozambique

Influence of religious affiliation and education on HIV knowledge and HIV-related sexual behaviors among unmarried youth in rural central Mozambique

Religious leaders' response to AIDS in Nigeria

Fighting down the scourge, building up the church: Organisational constraints in religious involvement with HIV/AIDS in Mozambique

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