Meddling with Mythology examines the role of research in the construction of modern mythology or folklore surrounding HIV/AIDS. Researchers from a variety of disciplines reflect on the insights gained and the impact of their work, in light of the initial panic surrounding the prediction of an AIDS epidemic. Issues discussed include:- * power * representation * the politics of text * understanding research relationships * impact of research on researchers and responders * potential for change. Meddling with Mythology takes the reader from the theoretical to the practicable and from the public to the personal in the representations of AIDS. The issues raised here also have great significance for those concerned with the social construction of knowledge, theory building and the research process more generally.

Almost four decades after the scientific discovery of HIV/AIDS, the world continues to grapple with this public health challenge. A successful response requires thinking differently about the epidemic, but what type of thinking can facilitate effective change? Thinking Differently about HIV/AIDS explores the limits of mainstream approaches to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and challenges readers to develop alternate solutions, placing particular emphasis on the value of critical social science perspectives. The contributors investigate traditions of inquiry – governmentality studies, institutional ethnography, Indigenous knowledges, conversation analysis, actor-network theory, critical ethnography, and others – to determine what these perspectives can bring to HIV/AIDS research, policy, and prevention programming. Engaging with various knowledge frameworks, they examine the criminalization of HIV, epidemiological and media constructions of the epidemic, HIV non-disclosure, treatment adherence, and other topics. This book is the first Canadian anthology of critical social science perspectives on HIV/AIDS, demonstrating how and why critical social science is necessary for rethinking research and action required to address the epidemic.

As news headlines report staggering numbers of people infected with HIV or AIDS across the globe and as stereotypes of typical AIDS patients become less and less specific to particular sexual orientations and ethnic backgrounds, the AIDS pandemic shows little sign of relenting. AIDS crosses geopolitical and social barriers, and social and behavioral scientists are confronted with the new challenge of developing scientific inquiry and corresponding interventions around participatory, community-based, and community-focused methods. These interventions are increasingly targeting the contextual influences on individual behavior, such as peer groups, social networks and support systems, and community norms. Community-level interventions also draw on local resources and are respectful of sociocultural circumstances and traditions. This book articulates how the social and behavioral sciences can respond to HIV/AIDS. It is written for all who have a stake in AIDS research, stimulating discussion and debate about the natures of community research and intervention broadly across such disciplines as public health, community health education, urban planning, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and philosophy of science. The book proposes alternative perspectives on means of ascertaining knowledge about the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the inclusion of community collaboration in interventions.

At a time when alarming numbers of people with HIV/AIDS seek help under cover of darkness, deeply ashamed of their plight, it is crucial to find ways to better comprehend and address the specific nature of stigma around HIV/AIDS in southern Africa.

By examining the early outbreaks in San Francisco, Cochrane unfolds the "creation" of AIDS in one geographic location and then traces how and why major claims about the transmission of HIV were made, extrapolated and then disseminated to the rest of the world - all important factors in understanding this disease.

AIDS and Development in Africa: A Social Science Perspective is the first book-length treatment of both the impact of AIDS in Africa and an assessment of intervention strategies in varying cultural situations. Developed from revised selected papers from the nineteenth Southern African Universities Social Science Conference, AIDS and Development in Africa will be of interest to counselors, medical and development practitioners, Africanists, and AIDS researchers. From this book, you will find wide analytical coverage of the issues and country case studies related to the contributory factors and development impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. You will also explore the ability of countries to willingly promote and cope with the pandemic in the context of their different economic circumstances. Specifically in AIDS and Development in Africa, you will read about: socioeconomic context of AIDS social scientific explanations of the AIDS pandemic in Africa HIV/AIDS and the status of women in Botswana and Swaziland sexual abuse and HIV/AIDS law and HIV/AIDS orphans of the AIDS pandemic media and the African context of social construction human resource development and training in relation to HIV/AIDS in Zambia AIDS and Development in Africa uses a multidisciplinary social science perspective in case studies of such countries as Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi, and Zambia to reveal contributory factors and the developmental impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa. This book demonstrates the human consequences of AIDS and the efforts being made by governments, individuals, families, villages, communities, and national government organizations to respond to the pandemic. For example, you will learn about information campaigns and peer education approaches that are successfully increasing transmission awareness and condom use. You will read beyond the usual analysis of demographics and receive much more substantial assessments and analyses of the burden on people, economies, and health care systems of the African countries. AIDS and Development in Africa is indispensable to anyone who is involved with HIV/AIDS prevention/intervention in Africa. This comprehensive book provides you with essential and up-to-date research on the many issues surrounding Africa’s HIV/AIDS pandemic.