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Objective: Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a matter of global concern but is particularly serious in Zimbabwe. A number of strategies have been identified to limit the risk of mother-to-child transmission, including abortion. The aim of the current study was to assess men's and women's roles in decision making about abortion in a setting with a high prevalence of HIV.Methods: Qualitative research based on eight focus group discussions was conducted among adult men and women in Gokwe North District, Zimbabwe.Results: Both men and women expressed strong, negative attitudes towards abortion. Often, HIV-infected women considered carrying their pregnancy to term so as to fulfil societal and cultural expectations of childbirth after marriage. Termination of pregnancy by HIV-infected women was discouraged due to the availability of highly active antiretroviral drugs. Fear of giving birth to a sick and HIV-infected child, however, remained high. Also, the restricted legal environment appeared to complicate HIV-positive women's decisions to abort. Male involvement in decision making about abortion was relatively limited; if women opted for termination of pregnancy they were likely to do so secretly without obtaining their partner's consent.Conclusions: In the context of HIV, it is important for prevention programmes to target both men and women in order to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual violence in conflict situations is gaining worldwide recognition as a human rights issue. There is growing awareness and concern about the risks associated with sexual violence against women. This study was conducted in order to explore the perceptions and experiences of the risk of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The study draws on qualitative, in-depth interviews with women at a hospital in Bukavu. The findings show that women suffered humiliation, torture and beatings during their rape. Most women were raped by a number of men and others were forced to have sex with close family members. The rapist often used extreme brutality against the women which had major long-term consequences for women including unwanted pregnancies and/or HIV/AIDS. Many of the women experienced great uncertainty about their future and that of their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of immigrants in South Africa from non-SADC countries. This research was conducted with Ethiopian immigrants in Durban in an attempt to shed some insights into this new nexus. The aim of the study was to understand the experiences of Ethiopian immigrants. The decision to migrate is motivated by a number of socio-economic factors including social networks and greater accessibility and availability of opportunities. The findings of this research suggest that most Ethiopian immigrants in South Africa are involved in the informal economic sector. The target of their economic activities is mainly South Africans in the townships and Ethiopian immigrants themselves. Crime is not the major concern because it does not impact the immigrant community. This research found that Ethiopian immigrants have not integrated into the local community. Language is a major barrier to integration. However, more efforts are needed to ensure their integration into the local community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HIV/AIDS epidemic and its disproportionate effect on the lives of young people has been a source of major concern in South Africa. Research has, until now, focussed on the broad cultural determinants of risky sexual behaviour among this group and on the barriers that impede the promotion of health seeking behaviour in the context of HIV/AIDS. Still missing is a dedicated investigation into the role of traditional rites of passage customs in influencing the sexual behaviour of young people. This article presents the findings from a study investigating the perceptions of young people from Venda, a former South African homeland under apartheid, of the cultural and educational importance of traditional initiation schools. The results of the study suggest that traditional initiation schools remain both an important rite of passage and source of sexual information for many young people. However, it is also discovered that initiation schools are not currently providing young people with the relevant information to adopt health-seeking behaviour in the era of HIV/AIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]