Positive Voices: Exploring Vulnerabilities and Understanding AIDS

This study is the outcome of a collaborative effort between MAMTA – Health Institute for Mother and Child, New Delhi and International HIV/AIDS Alliance, UK. Based on ethnographic observations and oral histories of people living with HIV/AIDS in Delhi State, India, this book explores the social, cultural, economic and medical context in which people infected by HIV/AIDS live. The central theme of the book is to explore how people became vulnerable to HIV infection and what their life has been like after becoming HIV positive. Based on the life histories of 28 HIV positive people, this book synthesises and identifies areas where effective programme intervention could minimise the impact of HIV/AIDS on individuals and households.

The participants in this study were selected from the beneficiaries of the Community Based Care and Support Programme being implemented by MAMTA in Delhi State with financial and technical support from International HIV/AIDS Alliance, UK. A sample of 28 PLHAs (19 males, 6 females and 3 children) was studied in-depth over a period of 2 years by a team consisting of PLHAs and researchers. The book is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 lays the background and deals with methodology and research design. Chapter 2 helps the reader to develop an understanding of the notion of vulnerability by exploring under what situations the participants in this study became vulnerable to HIV infection. In chapter 3, the socio-cultural context of living with HIV and aspects of stigma and discrimination has been dealt with. Chapter 4 further explores the psycho-social aspects of living with HIV followed by chapter 5 towards understanding care and support needs of the positive people.

As the book mentions (on jacket), "Positive Voices is an endeavour to bring forth the unheard voices of the marginalised. It captures the feelings, emotions, views and life experiences of the positive people and gives us an opportunity to introspect ourselves. It is intended to learn from grassroots realities as they exist and act at one's own level towards making the living environment better for everyone in the system. This book sets the beginning of an effort towards improvement..."

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