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. 2021 Jul;31(9):1680-1696.
doi: 10.1177/10497323211001361. Epub 2021 Mar 25.

Identifying "What Matters Most" to Men in Botswana to Promote Resistance to HIV-Related Stigma

Supriya Misra  1 , Haitisha T Mehta  2 , Evan L Eschliman  3 , Shathani Rampa  4 , Ohemaa B Poku  3 , Wei-Qian Wang  5 , Ari R Ho-Foster  4   6 , Mosepele Mosepele  4 , Timothy D Becker  7 , Patlo Entaile  4 , Tonya Arscott-Mills  5 , Phillip R Opondo  4 , Michael B Blank  5 , Lawrence H Yang  2   7
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Identifying "What Matters Most" to Men in Botswana to Promote Resistance to HIV-Related Stigma

Supriya Misra et al. Qual Health Res. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Despite a comprehensive national program of free HIV services, men living with HIV in Botswana participate at lower rates and have worse outcomes than women. Directed content analysis of five focus groups (n = 38) and 50 in-depth interviews with men and women with known and unknown HIV status in Gaborone, Botswana in 2017 used the "what matters most" (WMM) and "structural vulnerability" frameworks to examine how the most valued cultural aspects of manhood interact with HIV-related stigma. WMM for manhood in Botswana included fulfilling male responsibilities by being a capable provider and maintaining social status. Being identified with HIV threatened WMM, which fear of employment discrimination could further exacerbate. Our findings indicate how cultural and structural forces interact to worsen or mitigate HIV-related stigma for urban men in Botswana. These threats to manhood deter HIV testing and treatment, but interventions could capitalize on cultural capabilities for manhood to promote stigma resistance.

Keywords: AIDS; Botswana; HIV; culture; directed content analysis; masculinity; men; qualitative; stigma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest: The Author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest.

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