View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Unisa Institutional Repository THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF HIV AND AIDS ON WIDOWED WOMEN IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF ZIMBABWE: A CASE OF MUKADZIWASHE VILLAGE IN GUTU CENTRAL DISTRICT. By BEATHA MUSHANGWE Submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the subject SOCIOLOGY (SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR STUDIES IN HIV AND AIDS) at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: Dr T Tamasane FEBRUARY 2015 CONTENTS CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................... vi DECLARATION .................................................................................................................. vii SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY .............................. 1 1.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Problem statement ................................................................................................... 1 1.3. The Aim of the study ................................................................................................ 3 1.4. Objectives of the study ............................................................................................ 3 1.5. Research questions ................................................................................................. 4 1.6. Method of Research Employed ............................................................................... 4 1.6.1. Research Design ............................................................................................................ 4 1.6.2. Research Population ..................................................................................................... 4 1.6.2.1. Widows ..................................................................................................................... 4 1.6.2.2. Government Officials ............................................................................................ 4 1.6.2.3. NGO and/CBO Representatives. ........................................................................ 5 1.6.3. Sampling Technique Used ........................................................................................... 5 1.6.4. Data Collection Technique .......................................................................................... 6 1.7. Ethical Considerations in the Study ....................................................................... 6 1.8. The Structure of the mini-dissertation .................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................. 7 2.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 7 2.2. HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe ...................................................................................... 7 2.3. HIV and AIDS in Gutu District .................................................................................. 9 2.4. Challenges faced by women .................................................................................. 10 2.5. Programmes and interventions to address HIV and the plight of women .......... 13 2.5.1. Government interventions programmes ................................................................ 13 2.5.2. NGO intervention programmes ................................................................................ 17 2.5.2.1. Medicins Sans Frontieres .................................................................................. 17 2.5.2.2. Widows Empowerment Trust ............................................................................ 17 2.5.2.3. Batanai HIV and AIDS service organisation .................................................. 18 2.5.2.4. The Musasa Project ............................................................................................. 19 2.5.3. Interventions by women ............................................................................................. 19 i | Page 2.6. Theoretical Framework .......................................................................................... 20 2.7. Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 23 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY..................................................................... 24 3.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 24 3.2. Background to Zimbabwe ...................................................................................... 24 3.2.1. The Population of Zimbabwe .................................................................................... 24 3.2.2. The Economic Situation of Zimbabwe .................................................................... 25 3.2.2.1. Agriculture ............................................................................................................. 25 3.2.2.2. Mining ...................................................................................................................... 25 3.2.2.3. Manufacturing ....................................................................................................... 26 3.2.2.4. Distribution and Tourism ................................................................................... 26 3.2.2.5. Transport and Communication......................................................................... 26 3.2.2.6. Finance and Insurance ....................................................................................... 26 3.2.2.7. Education ............................................................................................................... 27 3.2.3. Poverty Situation .......................................................................................................... 28 3.2.4. Research site ................................................................................................................. 29 3.3. Research Methodology .......................................................................................... 32 3.3.1. Research Design .......................................................................................................... 32 3.3.2. Research Participants ................................................................................................. 34 3.3.3. Sampling Procedure .................................................................................................... 34 3.3.4. Sample size .................................................................................................................... 35 3.4. Negotiating access to the research site ............................................................... 36 3.5. The Method of Data Collection Employed ............................................................ 37 3.6. Data Analysis .......................................................................................................... 38 3.6.1. Credibility of the study ............................................................................................... 39 3.6.2. Validity ............................................................................................................................ 40 3.6.3. Objectivity ...................................................................................................................... 41 3.7. Ethical Considerations ........................................................................................... 41 3.7.1. Voluntary participation ............................................................................................... 41 3.7.2. Confidentiality and Avoidance of Harm ................................................................. 42 3.7.3. Informed consent ......................................................................................................... 42 3.8. Limitations of the study ......................................................................................... 42 3.9. Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 43 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH RESULTS ................................................................................ 44 4.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 44 ii | Page 4.2. Biographical profiles of widows interviewed ....................................................... 44 4.2.1. Age of respondents ..................................................................................................... 45 4.2.2. Household size ............................................................................................................. 45 4.2.3. Number of children born by a particular widow .................................................. 45 4.2.4. Employment status ...................................................................................................... 46 4.3. Challenges Experienced by Widows ....................................................................