Has the social justice approach become pervasive as a tool for fighting HIV in women? The case of Zambia

Choolwe Muzyamba

doi:10.1186/s13104-019-4420-z

Abstract

ObjectiveResearch has constantly shown how gender-based social inequality in countries like Zambia leads to disproportionately higher HIV prevalence rates among women aged 15 to 45 years old. As a response to this, the social justice approach in HIV response has become gold standard. Despite its continued application, little is known about how this approach is received and experienced by the people it is meant to serve. Thus the aim of this study is to fill this gap by investigating Zambian women’s interpretation and experience with the social justice approach as a tool for fighting HIV infection.ResultsThe social justice movement’s role in highlighting different gender-based social inequalities was praised by our participants; however, there are several ways its application proved counterproductive in the context of Zambia. Thus, in many ways our respondents remained repugnant to the approach thereby closing down opportunities for fighting social inequality and HIV. Overall, our findings indicate that rather than definitively establishing the social justice approach as an incontestable good, there is more to benefit from paying attention to the diverse ways it is viewed by people it is meant to serve.

Highlights

In Zambia, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence rate for women is around 16%, which is 25% higher than that of men [1]
The social justice movement’s role in highlighting different gender-based social inequalities was praised by our participants; there are several ways its application proved counterproductive in the context of Zambia
Our findings indicate that rather than definitively establishing the social justice approach as an incontestable good, there is more to benefit from paying attention to the diverse ways it is viewed by people it is meant to serve

Summary

Results

By use of the Social Representation Theory, our results showed that representations of the socialjustice approach varied, respondents in general noted that an emphasis on social-justice, in particular, rights of women and female empowerment was necessary for addressing the complex drivers of the HIV epidemic in Zambia. Lack of flexibility in implementation Conflict with cultural and religious values Failure to address women’s priorities and day-to-day realities Social justice is an “un-Zambian” Western concept Disrupts survival networks (marriage) of unemployed women Women felt disconnected with the approach Implementation of approach done in a way that is too confrontational It conflicts traditional cultural and religious values Alienates potential allies Creates enemies Ignores men in the conversation It is merely a symbolic gesture without substantial economic survival opportunities Champions of the approach are out of touch with local realities Ignores local strategies It is neocolonial It is a hegemonic imposition of western culture and standards inspiring collaboration They wondered why men who were branded as perpetrators were left out of the conversation.

Introduction

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Discussion

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