Aids in the 21st Century: A Medical Anthropological Perspective

This module provides an overview of the anthropology of AIDS, promotes understanding and analysis in a broad social, political and economic context, and explores qualitative and quantitative methods.

At the crossroads of sexuality and death, AIDS is a potent metaphor for inequality, the failures of modernity, and the rise of globalisation in many communities. Those infected with AIDS become stigmatised, and associated with the breakdown of community morals. Contextualizing AIDS in everyday life, we will work to understand how people live and die with AIDS.

This programme provides an overview of the latest developments in the anthropology of AIDS, promotes understanding and analysis in a broad social, political and economic context, and explores combining qualitative and quantitative methods for studying HIV/AIDS. Students apply these insights to case studies that highlight the complexity of AIDS and reflect on the way anthropological research can inform interventions intended to combat AIDS.

AIDS will be placed in a historical perspective, paying attention to recent shifts toward the provision of anti-retroviral treatment. While the disease and efforts to combat it have been flourishing for more than 20 years, there is little ground for examination of past successes or failures, or comparison with other public health efforts.