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.

In Melanesia, rates of HIV infection are among the highest in the Pacific and increasing rapidly, with grave humanitarian, development, and political implications. There is a great need for social research on HIV/AIDS in the region to provide better insights into the sensitive issues surrounding HIV transmission. This collection, the first book on HIV and AIDS in the Pacific region, gathers together stunning and original accounts of the often surprising ways that people make sense of the AIDS epidemic in various parts of Melanesia. The volume addresses substantive issues concerning AIDS and contemporary sexualities, relations of power, and moralities—themes that provide a powerful backdrop for twenty-first century understandings of the tensions between sexuality, religion, and politics in many parts of the world.

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.

Europe's "Black Death" contributed to the rise of nation states, mercantile economies, and even the Reformation. Will the AIDS epidemic have similar dramatic effects on the social and political landscape of the twenty-first century? This readable volume looks at the impact of AIDS since its emergence and suggests its effects in the next decade, when a million or more Americans will likely die of the disease. The Social Impact of AIDS in the United States addresses some of the most sensitive and controversial issues in the public debate over AIDS. This landmark book explores how AIDS has affected fundamental policies and practices in our major institutions, examining: How America's major religious organizations have dealt with sometimes conflicting values: the imperative of care for the sick versus traditional views of homosexuality and drug use. Hotly debated public health measures, such as HIV antibody testing and screening, tracing of sexual contacts, and quarantine. The potential risk of HIV infection to and from health care workers. How AIDS activists have brought about major change in the way new drugs are brought to the marketplace. The impact of AIDS on community-based organizations, from volunteers caring for individuals to the highly political ACT-UP organization. Coping with HIV infection in prisons. Two case studies shed light on HIV and the family relationship. One reports on some efforts to gain legal recognition for nonmarital relationships, and the other examines foster care programs for newborns with the HIV virus. A case study of New York City details how selected institutions interact to give what may be a picture of AIDS in the future. This clear and comprehensive presentation will be of interest to anyone concerned about AIDS and its impact on the country: health professionals, sociologists, psychologists, advocates for at-risk populations, and interested individuals.

Several socio-economic, ethical, legal, political and cultural issues have arisen because of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This anthology discusses the cultural ramifications that undermine HIV/AIDS education through the contributions of the following scholars: Caroline Blair, David Ojakaa, S.A. Ochola, Dishon Gogi, Marietta Federici-LaFarge, Frank Machlica, Davidson C. Umeh, Gerjo Kok, Harm J. Hospers, John B.F. De Wit, Lynn Morrison, Sepali Guruge, Kabahenda Nyakabwa, Jerome Okafor, Tim Rodgers, Howard Stevenson, Helen M. Rupp, Minakshi Tikoo, Charles B.U. Uwakwe, Ralph DiClemente, Gina M. Wingood, Nora K. Bell, Ifeanyi Emenike and Gust A. Yep. They discussed cultural implications and specific HIV / AIDS education strategies for women, men, adolescents, gays, people living with HIV/AIDS in the following communities: American-Indian, African-American, Asian-American, White-American, Kenyan, Ugandan, Nigerian, Indian, Dutch and athletes. This book will be of great significance to students and scholars in anthropology, medicine, nursing, psychology, health, education, sociology, and women's studies. The authors provide much insight into community dynamics, social relationships and group norms which are important in the development of effective education programs for HIV/AIDS.

The widespread tragedy of the AIDS epidemic is forcing social scientists to change the way they think about and study subgroups within the majority culture. How is the concept of culture relevant to the study of AIDS? How can social science methods be used to uncover the epidemiology of this deadly disease? And, how can social scientists deploy what they learn to help solve the problems posed by AIDS? The Time of AIDS explores and provides provocative insights on these three critical issues. By examining research conducted with various cultural groups and in different countries, the authors offer insight on how to identify the distinct way different communities respond to the threat of this disease. These studies demonstrate that a single theory and method will not capture the importance of the AIDS epidemic, but a close look at the culture and psychology of a society can inspire more effective ways of education, intervention, and arrest of the transmission of the virus. Researchers and practitioners in anthropology, psychology, sociology, and nursing will benefit from this enlightening volume.