Breast feeding patterns of HIV positive mothers in the context of mother to child transmission in Kwazulu-Natal.
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Date
2003
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Abstract
The focus of this thesis is to look at breastfeeding patterns in KwaZulu-Natal
province, South Africa in relation to HIV infected women, who as mothers may,
transmit the HIV virus to their child. It seeks to understand in depth the social
context of HIV and AIDS in the time of the AIDS pandemic looking at gender
culture; powerlessness of women in households in society. These dynamics
occurring at such a crucial time and moment of this spiral explosive epidemic
reflects a more broader concerted effort to understand and find solutions.
This study emerges from a larger research project conducted under the auspices
of the Medical Research Council, which was examining the transmission rates of
HIV infection in babies born to HIV positive woman for a period of six months, on
breastfeeding having given these women nevirapine as well. The study was
HIVNET 023, which looked at the use of NVP that was given to breastfed infants
in order to reduce MTCT of HIV, Phase 1,11 Study. This work was conducted
from 2000 and completed in 2001. This thesis seeks to further explore
challenges experienced by these breastfeeding HIV positive women in the public
domain (i.e. in the clinics, hospitals as well as in communities), and how these
challenges impinge in their daily lives as women. Issues of gender inequality,
the social context of culture in the midst of a health crisis, and suggestions for
change in the context of clinical practice, make up the bulk of the thesis
argument.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Kwazulu-Natal, 2003.
Keywords
AIDS (Disease) in pregnancy., AIDS (Disease) in women--KwaZulu-Natal., HIV-positive women--KwaZulu-Natal., Theses--Gender studies.