AIDS, Behavior, and Culture presents a bold challenge to the prevailing wisdom of “the global AIDS industry” and offers an alternative framework for understanding what works in HIV prevention. Arguing for a behavior-based approach, Green and Ruark make the case that the most effective programs are those that encourage fundamental behavioral changes such as abstinence, delay of sex, faithfulness, and cessation of injection drug use. Successful programs are locally based, low cost, low tech, innovative, and built on existing cultural structures. In contrast, they argue that anthropologists and public health practitioners focus on counseling, testing, condoms, and treatment, and impose their Western values, culture, and political ideologies in an attempt to “liberate” non-Western people from sexual repression and homophobia. This provocative book is essential reading for anyone working in HIV/AIDS prevention, and a stimulating introduction to the key controversies and approaches in global health and medical anthropology for students and general readers.

Arguing for a behavior-based approach, Green and Ruark make the case that the most effective AIDS programs are those that encourage fundamental behavioral changes such as abstinence, delay of sex, faithfulness, and cessation of injection drug use.

This collection is a serious attempt to explore the relationship between cultural content and the form AIDS takes in different cultural settings. Written mostly by anthropologists, these essays examine different cultural areas and AIDS: central Africa (Rwanda), New York City, Houston, and London. In addition, articles address topics such as stigmatization of AIDS victims by the press; language and AIDS; class variations in the delivery of social services as experienced by gay and bisexual men in New York City; and homophobia and AIDS. The volume is a valuable addition to the social-anthropological literature on AIDS and should be useful to professionals and for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses dealing with sociocultural aspects of AIDS. Choice AIDS has become a pandemic with major implications for the future vitality of humankind, according to this powerful new book compiled by the editor of the widely acclaimed The Social Dimensions of AIDS. As a cultural phenomenon the social patterning of AIDS can be explained and its direction largely predicted. Culture and AIDS is written almost entirely by anthropologists and represents the interest of dozens of anthropologists and represents the anthropologists' interest in AIDS related research and activities. Thirteen essays explore the social and cultural context of AIDS related behavior and clarify key domains in AIDS and the social sciences. This volume seeks to broaden its readers' understanding of how AIDS is changing our lives as it redirects human experience. Culture and AIDS is not intended as an introduction to AIDS. It looks at AIDS as a cultural phenomenon. It includes an introduction and postscript by its editor, Douglas A Feldman. Eleven essays explore: AIDS in Rwanda (Central Africa); A Haitian village handling AIDS; possible cofactors in HIV transmission; social service needs of gay men with AIDS in NYC; psychological factors influencing adjustment among HIV-infected gay men in Houston; social behavior of female prostitutes in London; social effects of AIDS on minority women; AIDS-related stigma in the press; language and AIDS; and other AIDS related areas.

Sexual Cultures and Migration in the Era of AIDS is the first demographic anthropological study of what happens to sexual behaviour and the rules of risk-taking in sexual encounters when people migrate from countryside to city, from one city to another, or from one country to another culture. It represents a milestone in the study of cross-cultural sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases. At the foreground of the study are commercial sex and prostitution, sexual tourism, heterosexual marriage and social pressure, and homosexuality and bisexuality in emerging sexual cultures. The volume brings together quantitative and qualitative case studies by an international panel of anthropologists, demographers, and sociologists aimed at better understanding the impact of human movement and mobility on sexual change and fertility.

Three decades into the HIV pandemic, the goals remain clear: reduce the number of infections,improve the health outcomes of those who are infected, and eliminate disparities in care. And one observation continues to gain credence: families are a powerful resource in preventing, adapting to, and coping with HIV. Recognizing their complex role as educators, mentors, and caregivers, Family and HIV/AIDS assembles a wealth of findings from successful prevention and intervention strategies and provides models for translating evidence into effective real-world practice. Chapters spotlight the differing roles of mothers and fathers in prevention efforts, clarify the need for family/community collaborations, and examine core issues of culture,ethnicity, gender, and diagnosis (e.g., minority families, adolescents with psychological disorders). Throughout, risk reduction and health promotion are shown as a viable public health strategy A reference with considerable utility across the health, mental health, and related disciplines,Family and HIV/AIDS will be a go-to resource for practitioners working with families, researchers studying at-risk populations, administrators seeking to create new (or evaluate existing)prevention and care programs, and policymakers involved in funding such programs.

Up until now, many articles have been written to portray stigma and discrimination which occur with people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in many parts of the world. But this is the first book which attempts to put together results from empirical research relating to stigma, discrimination and living with HIV/AIDS. The focus of this book is on issues relevant to stigma and discrimination which have occurred to individuals and groups in different parts of the globe, as well as how these individuals and groups attempt to deal with HIV/AIDS. The book comprises chapters written by researchers who carry out their projects in different parts of the world and each chapter contains empirical information based on real life situations. This can be used as an evidence for health care providers to implement socially and culturally appropriate services to assist individuals and groups who are living with HIV/AIDS in many societies. The book is of interest to health care providers who have their interests in working with individuals and groups who are living with HIV/AIDS from a cross-cultural perspective. It will be useful for students and lecturers in courses such as anthropology, sociology, social work, nursing, public health and medicine. In particular, it will assist health workers in community health centres and hospitals in understanding issues related to HIV/AIDS and hence provide culturally sensitive health care to people living with HIV/AIDS from different social and cultural backgrounds. The book is useful for anyone who is interested in HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in diverse social and cultural settings.