The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70368

Rebecca Perry, Population Reference Burearu, 410 Brighton Place, Elkins Park, PA 19027, 202-309-2727, Rebecca.Perry@alumni.brown.edu

Despite recent attention focused on preventing HIV/AIDS among women, the reality remains quite clear—each year more women are infected with malaria than HIV/AIDS, according to the World Health Organization. For researchers, the threat of HIV/AIDS has often obscured more imposing risks of malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases. In this paper, I present original research from a pilot study conducted among women in Matam, the northeastern regional capital of Senegal. Using data compiled from 20 semi-structured qualitative interviews, and five comprehensive focus group discussions involving a total of 60 women, this research explores how women view their health and their community’s health at a time of heightened concern about contracting HIV/AIDS.

The research shows that while women talked about their fears of HIV/AIDS, the majority recognized and ranked malaria as the single most threatening illness to themselves and their community. During focus group discussions, participants highlighted behavior and lifestyle changes adopted to combat malaria and tuberculosis, and not HIV/AIDS. This qualitative study shows that public health initiatives focusing exclusively on HIV/AIDS prevention do not respond to these women’s primary health concerns. Furthermore, this study illustrates how the international community’s concentration on HIV/AIDS among women might mask the threat of more prevalent diseases such as malaria.

Learning Objectives:

• From this paper, audience members will learn about rural Senegalese women’s perception of disease, their health concerns, and the behavioral and lifestyle changes adopted to combat these diseases.

Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Women and HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.