TY - JOUR
T1 - Fighting down the scourge, building up the church
T2 - Organisational constraints in religious involvement with HIV/AIDS in Mozambique
AU - Agadjanian, Victor
AU - Menjívar, Cecilia
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - Religious organisations (ROs) are often said to play an important role in mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS. Yet, limitations of that role have also been acknowledged. While most of the literature has focused on ideological and individual-level implications of religion for HIV/AIDS, in this study we shift the focus to the organisational factors that shape and constrain ROs' involvement in both HIV prevention and HIV/AIDS care and support. Using primarily qualitative data collected in a predominantly Christian area in southern Mozambique, we show that the organisational vitality of a RO as determined by its membership size and its relationships with other churches and with governmental and non-governmental agencies is a pervasive priority of RO leaders. Therefore, all church activities, including those related to HIV/AIDS, are instrumentalised by the religious leadership to achieve the church's organizational aims - maintaining and growing its membership, safeguarding the often precarious coexistence with other churches, and enhancing its standing vis-à-vis the government and powerful non-governmental organisations. As a result, the effectiveness of ROs' involvement in HIV/AIDS prevention and assistance is often compromised.
AB - Religious organisations (ROs) are often said to play an important role in mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS. Yet, limitations of that role have also been acknowledged. While most of the literature has focused on ideological and individual-level implications of religion for HIV/AIDS, in this study we shift the focus to the organisational factors that shape and constrain ROs' involvement in both HIV prevention and HIV/AIDS care and support. Using primarily qualitative data collected in a predominantly Christian area in southern Mozambique, we show that the organisational vitality of a RO as determined by its membership size and its relationships with other churches and with governmental and non-governmental agencies is a pervasive priority of RO leaders. Therefore, all church activities, including those related to HIV/AIDS, are instrumentalised by the religious leadership to achieve the church's organizational aims - maintaining and growing its membership, safeguarding the often precarious coexistence with other churches, and enhancing its standing vis-à-vis the government and powerful non-governmental organisations. As a result, the effectiveness of ROs' involvement in HIV/AIDS prevention and assistance is often compromised.
KW - Africa
KW - Aids care
KW - Hiv prevention
KW - Mozambique
KW - Religion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80052463288&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80052463288&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17441692.2011.598869
DO - 10.1080/17441692.2011.598869
M3 - Article
C2 - 21787253
AN - SCOPUS:80052463288
VL - 6
SP - S148-S162
JO - Global Public Health
JF - Global Public Health
SN - 1744-1692
IS - SUPPL. 2
ER -