Widowhood in the era of HIV/AIDS: A case study of Slaya District, Kenya
Luo women are believed to acquire contagious cultural impurity after the death of their husbands that is perceived as dangerous to other people. To neutralise this impure state, a sexual cleansing rite is observed. In the indigenous setting, the ritual was observed by a brother-in-law or cousin of t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2007-08-01
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| Series: | SAHARA-J |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17290376.2007.9724882 |
| _version_ | 1828366821863981056 |
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| author | Constance Ambasa-Shisanya |
| author_facet | Constance Ambasa-Shisanya |
| author_sort | Constance Ambasa-Shisanya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Luo women are believed to acquire contagious cultural impurity after the death of their husbands that is perceived as dangerous to other people. To neutralise this impure state, a sexual cleansing rite is observed. In the indigenous setting, the ritual was observed by a brother-in-law or cousin of the deceased husband through a guardianship institution. However, with the emergence of HIV/AIDS, many educated brothers-in-law refrain from the practice and instead hire professional cleansers as substitutes. If the deceased spouses were HIV positive, the ritual places professional cleansers at risk of infection. Thereafter, they could act as a bridge for HIV/AIDS transmission to other widows and to the general population. This paper provides insights into reasons for continuity of widowhood rites in Siaya District. Twelve focus group discussions and 20 in-depth interviews were conducted. The cultural violence against Luo widows could spread HIV/AIDS, but Christianity and condoms act as coping mechanisms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:51:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-23a900cf61d04143a389cb8267779185 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1729-0376 1813-4424 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:51:11Z |
| publishDate | 2007-08-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAHARA-J |
| spelling | doaj.art-23a900cf61d04143a389cb82677791852022-12-22T02:09:07ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSAHARA-J1729-03761813-44242007-08-014260661510.1080/17290376.2007.9724882Widowhood in the era of HIV/AIDS: A case study of Slaya District, KenyaConstance Ambasa-Shisanya0Family Health International, NairobiLuo women are believed to acquire contagious cultural impurity after the death of their husbands that is perceived as dangerous to other people. To neutralise this impure state, a sexual cleansing rite is observed. In the indigenous setting, the ritual was observed by a brother-in-law or cousin of the deceased husband through a guardianship institution. However, with the emergence of HIV/AIDS, many educated brothers-in-law refrain from the practice and instead hire professional cleansers as substitutes. If the deceased spouses were HIV positive, the ritual places professional cleansers at risk of infection. Thereafter, they could act as a bridge for HIV/AIDS transmission to other widows and to the general population. This paper provides insights into reasons for continuity of widowhood rites in Siaya District. Twelve focus group discussions and 20 in-depth interviews were conducted. The cultural violence against Luo widows could spread HIV/AIDS, but Christianity and condoms act as coping mechanisms.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17290376.2007.9724882Coping mechanismscultural violence against widowsguardianship institutionHIV/AIDSprofessional cleanserssexual cleansing rite |
| spellingShingle | Constance Ambasa-Shisanya Widowhood in the era of HIV/AIDS: A case study of Slaya District, Kenya SAHARA-J Coping mechanisms cultural violence against widows guardianship institution HIV/AIDS professional cleansers sexual cleansing rite |
| title | Widowhood in the era of HIV/AIDS: A case study of Slaya District, Kenya |
| title_full | Widowhood in the era of HIV/AIDS: A case study of Slaya District, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Widowhood in the era of HIV/AIDS: A case study of Slaya District, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Widowhood in the era of HIV/AIDS: A case study of Slaya District, Kenya |
| title_short | Widowhood in the era of HIV/AIDS: A case study of Slaya District, Kenya |
| title_sort | widowhood in the era of hiv aids a case study of slaya district kenya |
| topic | Coping mechanisms cultural violence against widows guardianship institution HIV/AIDS professional cleansers sexual cleansing rite |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17290376.2007.9724882 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT constanceambasashisanya widowhoodintheeraofhivaidsacasestudyofslayadistrictkenya |