Browsing by Author "Ndlovu, Vezumuzi"

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    Gender and reproductive decision making among couples with HIV/AIDS in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
    (2006) Ndlovu, Vezumuzi
    Gender, the culturally constructed social relations between men and women, plays an important role in determining not only the role and place of both sexes in society but also impacts the distribution of power between the sexes. Men, especially in patriarchal settings, have been observed to dominate women economically, politically and even sexually. Thus men generally exercise power over women. This article explores the impact of gender on reproductive and sexual decision-making among couples with HIV/AIDS. It discusses the decision-making process itself and then examines how gender and the exercise of power influence the decisions or choices made by these couples. Based on a sample of HIV-positive couples from Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), an important observation that this paper makes concerns the lack of male dominance in decision-making among these couples. This is explained in terms of high level of HIV/AIDS awareness among the study sample, the high cost of parental investment to women as well as the behavioural change necessitated by an HIVpositive diagnosis.
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    The impact of HAART on the reproductive decision making process of HIV positive people in Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
    (2006) Ndlovu, Vezumuzi
    This article explores how the advent of HAART has impacted the fertility plans of people with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. It argues that HAART has had a significant impact on the outlook that HIV-positive people have on reproduction and health in general especially among those who intend to continue with childbearing. The results section presents responses from HIV-positive people who intend to continue with child bearing with regard to how the advent of HAART has impacted their views and decisions on this issue. The discussion evaluates, from a broader perspective, whether the views concerning HAART and reproduction expressed by those who intend to reproduce are justifiable. The article concludes that it is mainly the availability and efficacy of HAART that has motivated some HIV-positive people to continue pursuing their childbearing plans..
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    Reproductive decisions among couples with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe: a descriptive qualitative study of a sample from Bulawayo
    (2008) Ndlovu, Vezumuzi; Jubber, Ken; Downs, Libbi
    Men and woman of reproductive age are the largest group infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Zimbabwe. Over 70% of the reported HIV/AIDS cases in Zimbabwe are among the 20-29 year age group. The purpose of this exploratory study was to explore and describe the impact of being HIV positive on the reproductive and sexual choices or decisions made by HIV positive couples given that in Zimbabwean society it is generally expected that couples, especially married ones, should reproduce. The study explored the context of decision making, the content of decisions made, the process of making those decisions as well as the actors involved in the decision making process. In pursuance of the purpose of the study, the socio-cultural context which determines the value framework within which HIV positive couples live and make their decisions was explored as was the economic as well as the medical context. The study also examined the role of health professionals and the family on the reproductive decisions made by HIV positive couples. The gender based power dynamics within the relationships of the positive couples was also given due attention. Having explored these factors the study found that being HIV positive has both direct and indirect effects on the reproductive and sexual lives of HIV positive couples as well as on the decisions that they make. Several approaches were used to explore the impact of being HIV positive on reproductive decision making and how reproductive decisions and sexual choices were made by HIV positive couples within the context of the Zimbabwean patriarchal society. Includes bibliographical references (p. 161-178).