Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home AfricaBib Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Representations of HIV/AIDS management in South African newspapers
Authors:Campbell, CatherineISNI
Gibbs, Andy
Year:2008
Periodical:African Journal of AIDS Research
Volume:7
Issue:2
Pages:195-208
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:health policy
AIDS
images
newspapers
community participation
External link:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.2989/AJAR.2008.7.2.5.522
Abstract:In South Africa, numerous strong policy statements emphasize the importance of involving communities in HIV/AIDS management, yet in practice such involvement tends to be tokenistic and minimal. Social representations in the public sphere constitute the symbolic dimension within which responses to HIV and AIDS are conceptualized and transformed into action. Through an analysis of newspaper articles, the authors explore the dominant representations of HIV/AIDS management circulating in the South African public sphere and examine how community engagement is depicted. They highlight the way media representations reflect narrow understandings of HIV and AIDS as a predominantly medical problem, while depicting HIV/AIDS management as a top-down activity dominated by prominent individuals, such as national leaders, health professionals and philanthropists, thus marginalizing the role played by communities, who are often depicted as passive recipients of interventions by active outsiders. These representations fail to reflect the key role played by members of grassroots communities in responding to the HIV epidemic. Such representations provide flawed conceptual tools for shaping responses to the epidemic, given that HIV-related programmes are unlikely to have optimal outcomes unless they resonate with the perceived needs and interests of their target communities, as we contend that effective HIV/AIDS management is best achieved through active participation by communities in HIV/AIDS management strategies. The authors discuss the implications of a more 'civic-minded journalism'. Bibliogr., note, sum. [Journal abstract]
Views
Cover