Gender, generation and communication in times of AIDS:The potential of "modern" and "traditional" institutions

Project summary

This programme proposal outlines an initiative from a group of Tanzanian and Norwegian researchers engaged with issues of HIV prevention and AIDS care in a context of a dramaticically developing HIV/AIDS situation in East Africa. The proposed programme activity involves institution building-, capacity building-, research and dissemination on both the East African and the Scandinavian side. The programme activity is to take place in Mbulu/Hanang and Moshi/Arusha in northern Tanzanian and in Kigoma in western Tanzania. The projects particularly target women, youth and orphans. Albeit truly inter-disciplinary and multi-approach, the field of nursing is located at the heart of the venture. In line with the National AIDS control programmes? research priorities, an emphasis in placed on culturally informed approaches to the pandemic. To draw upon the strengths inherent in people?s socio-cultural and historic environments is a fundamental emphasis of the programme. The initiative will particularly explore the assumed potential inherent in ?traditional? as well as ?modern? institutions in coping with and empowering communities in HIV prevention and AIDS care.