Social Perceptions of HIV/AIDS among the Wayuu of Colombia. Issue 3 (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: María Castro-Arroyave, Diana; Gamella Mora, Juan F.; Rojas Arbeláez, Carlos; Mignone, Javier
• Is Part Of: Journal of HIV/AIDS & social services. Volume 17:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 224
• Page End: 238
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: Colombia -- HIV/AIDS -- Indigenous health -- social perception HIV/AIDS -- Wayuu; AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Services for -- Periodicals; 362.1969792005
• DOI: 10.1080/15381501.2018.1437584
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1538-1501

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Understanding how Indigenous populations perceive HIV/AIDS is of high relevance for the implementation of culturally appropriate interventions. The study analyzed the ways in which Indigenous Wayuu communities of Colombia socially perceive and respond to HIV/AIDS from their sociocultural realities and their knowledge of the illness. It analyzed qualitative data from 9 focus groups and 29 semi-structured interviews. The Wayuu think of HIV/AIDS as "the illness", that it is incurable, fatal, transmitted from alijunas (non Wayuu), and beyond their understanding. They seem to perceive HIV/AIDS similarly to the ways Western societies perceived unknown or misunderstood epidemics in the past.