Open AccessThe Stigmatization of HIV/AIDS Victims in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Gospel
Author(s) -
P.J. Buys
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
unio cum christo
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2473-8476
pISSN - 2380-5412
DOI - 10.35285/ucc7.2.2021.art11
Subject(s) - shame , gospel , stigma (botany) , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , pandemic , psychological resilience , psychology , social psychology , criminology , sociology , disease , medicine , psychiatry , virology , covid-19 , history , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , archaeology
One of the most challenging issues in dealing with HIV/AIDS in Africa is breaking through the stigmas surrounding the disease and building resilience in communities where large numbers of people are infected with HIV or otherwise affected by the pandemic. This article explores the relationship between shame, fear, guilt, witchcraft, and HIV/AIDS stigmatization by looking at key features of the African traditional worldview and culture. We point out predominant witchcraft beliefs and how they translate to community attitudes towards people living with HIV and AIDS. We highlight the influence of prevailing beliefs in witchcraft and how they aggravate the experience of fear, shame, and stigmatization by people infected with or otherwise affected by HIV. Relevant aspects of the gospel are brought to bear to answer these challenges. KEYWORDS: HIV/AIDS, stigmatization, shame culture, fear culture, witchcraft, ubuntu