HIV and AIDS: An analysis of community coping strategies with special reference to Mutambi Ward community of Zvishavane, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The impact of HIV and AIDS on Mutambi Ward in Zvishavane District of Zimbabwe

was assessed between May 2004 and October 2006. The study was undertaken using

focus group discussions, questionnaire surveys, use of key informants, review of

records and observations. Care for PLHIV has increased household labour

requirements resulting in a decrease in the time allocated to crop production activities.

Approximately 75% of the households spent their productive time caring for the sick

and attending funerals which occur approximately 8 times a month. Resources meant

for crop production are diverted to patient care. Only 33% of the members managed

to work once a week on their plots while the rest were involved in HIV and AIDS

related activities. This has negatively affected crop productivity. In order to cope

with the excess burden of crop production and attending to PLHIV, the community

has adopted various coping strategies, the main one being a community home based

care programme run by 21 volunteers who dedicated their labour to help households

affected by HIV and AIDS at the expense of their own productive work. Other coping

strategies include change of cultural norms and values, change of roles and

responsibilities, dependency on relatives and funeral contributions. The extent to

which these coping strategies were effective was minimal. Thus coping with the

impacts of HIV and AIDS by the community is a battle being lost.

Key words: HIV and AIDS, coping strategies, care and impact.