Food insecurity, structural violence, and HIV

Posted by Lance Gravlee on April 14, 2008 
Filed Under Class discussion

In class today, I discussed a study published in 2007 on the links between food insufficiency, sexual behavior, and HIV transmission in Botswana and Swaziland. I cited the links between undernutrition, food insecurity, and HIV as an example of how structural violence constrains and influences individual behavior and well being.

If you’d like to learn more about this study, check out this interview with Sheri Weiser, M.D., lead author on the study and assistant adjunct professor of medicine at UC-San Francisco.

How, if at all, does this study—or our discussion in class—change your thinking about the causes of the AIDS epidemic? What other factors do you think need to be addressed? How useful do you find the concept of structural violence for making sense of global inequalities in health?

Comments

3 Responses to “Food insecurity, structural violence, and HIV”

  1. Trang on April 14th, 2008 11:34 pm

    Hi Dr. Gravlee

    I have a question. Could you post the information on the AIDS speaker we had on Monday? Also, if we wanted to get tested, where can I receive or find the information for that?

    Thanks.

  2. Lance Gravlee on April 15th, 2008 9:44 am

    @Trang: Better yet — I’ll ask our guest speaker, Mrs. Teresa White from the Alachua County Health Department, to respond here on the blog. Stay tuned.

  3. Teresa White on April 18th, 2008 10:08 am

    Hello,
    I am so glad to have questions and especially some students that are interested in getting tested. You can call me at 352-316-4023-cell or 352-334-7900 ext 3335 to set up an appt to get a Rapid (20 minute HIV test) in my office at the health dept. STD testing is offered on Tues and Thurs from 12 noon until 3pm. Just walk in..

    We also offer H.O.T parties (Home outreach testing parties in the home) if you are interested in planning one in your apt or home with your friends, call me and we will set one up.
    What is a H.O.T party?
    A recruiter will invite up to 5-7 friends over to their house for a potluck dinner or lunch. Teresa will have one of her HOT outreach workers come over and show a movie that relates to HIV/AIDS and then facilitate disucssion about the issues or concerns about getting tested. The outreach worker will then offer HIV testing using ORASURE-mouth swab and plan a 2nd meeting in 2 weeks to give out results. Call Teresa to schedule on in your home…it is a great way to get your friends tested and educated.

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