Editors:

Catherine Campbell

Date of publication:

2003

Published by:

James Currey (Oxford) and Indiana University Press (Bloomington & Indianapolis) in association with The International African Institute

ARC Catalog Number:

HC4.45.C3

Description:

South Africa has the worst AIDS epidemic in the world. In this one mining community in South Africa, AIDS will kill six out of then young women and four out of then young men. The book highlights the barriers and constraints to controlling this national crisis.

• Why do people knowingly risk a slow and painful premature death?
People explain in their own words. There are interviews with migrant mineworkers, commercial sex workers and young women and men.

• Why did this ‘gold standard’ prevention programme have little impact?
Free condoms, treatment for sexually transmitted infections and education and awareness programmes were all provided. If any intervention was to have had a measurable impact, this should have been the one.

• Can women be taught the skills for negotiating safe sex?
Three women die for every two men. The author’s experience is drawn from a period of five years. She writes vividly- even at times in a raw manner.

• What are the lessons within Africa and across the world?
The author, who is a social psychologist, has drawn on anthropology, sociology and social medicine. Her study is an early evaluation of what is becoming the standard HIV/AIDS intervention throughout Africa.