Understand Its Complexity. If we in the West are to assist in the fight against AIDS in the developing world, we need to realize how complex the issue really is. I was surprised myself at how multifaceted it was when I came to Zimbabwe in 2000 to set up a nursing school and teach.

AIDS is not just a public health problem, but a sociocultural, economic one. It is connected to poverty, traditional beliefs and practices, religion, sexual taboos, the effects of colonialism, our Western governments’ international aid and trade policies, and corrupt national governments in the affected countries. All of these are interwoven like a web that maintains gender inequality and hinders women (and men) in promoting their health and preventing HIV. But there are ways to untangle the web if we are willing to challenge traditional thinking.

Donate to Aid Efforts That Will Make a Difference. Zimbabwe has more than a 70 percent unemployment rate. Poverty limits choices and sustains high-risk sexual behavior that can spread HIV. The huge number of people infected with HIV is overwhelming family and formal health care systems. As a result, many people die horrible, undignified deaths due to lack of basic resources. Committed, adequate, and long-term aid is critical for AIDS-prevention programs and improved health services in general. However, projects that work toward global economic justice are more important for long-term and sustainable change.  

Promote Gender Equality. Many men in rural Zimbabwe view women as commodities whose sole purpose is to serve the family. Women have little voice or control over anything, not even their own bodies. In the community where I lived and worked, my research showed that oppression kept women from protecting themselves from AIDS. Many women had to ask their husband’s permission—often by kneeling—to leave the property, to go to the hospital, to buy anything. Challenging their husbands could result in violence. Because of this, women are often afraid to ask their husbands to wear condoms. Husbands say, “I bought you, so you can't tell me to wear plastic,” or they think their wives are accusing them of promiscuity, and they get angry. Gender analysis, integrated into development efforts, is critical for any improvement in how men and women relate to each other.

Support Debt Relief. Most countries have more than paid back their loan principal through massive interest payments over many years. Debt relief would allow legitimate and caring governments to redirect payments to social programs, such as AIDS prevention and treatment.

Have the Courage to Challenge Cultural Norms. When I reported the results of my study to the chief and members of the local Zimbabwe community, I challenged them to think about the level of gender inequality. I reminded them of their concern about development, about wanting to have a better quality of life, like in the West.

I asked them how they expected to develop when 51 percent of their community (the women) are oppressed. I stressed that men and women needed to work together and that if one group gains more power, it doesn’t mean others have to lose theirs. Sometimes, if we are too culturally sensitive, we perpetuate systems of injustice.

Don’t Lose Hope. Sadly, it is easy to be pessimistic about HIV in rural Zimbabwe. I offered suggestions in my dissertation, but many of them require stable and forward-thinking governments and NGOs that will plan and work together. Unfortunately, these are in short supply.

Some of the women in my study passively accepted the fact that they couldn’t protect themselves from HIV; they thought that is just how life is. Others knew change was possible, but that it could, and would, take a very long time.