ERIC Number: EJ794079
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 11
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1529-1944
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Social Capital, Health and HIV Awareness of Girls in a Rural Caribbean Community
Morrison, Sharon D.; Howard, Rosalyn; Hardy, Christina; Stinson, Betria
International Electronic Journal of Health Education, v8 p135-145 2005
Girls and young women are bearing the heaviest burden of the rising HIV epidemic in the English-speaking Caribbean. Previous research has highlighted the importance of understanding geographical and sociocultural factors in the spread of HIV among this population. This paper reports an exploratory case study which assessed the role of social capital in health and HIV awareness among girls and young women in a rural, isolated community on Andros Island, Bahamas. We examined features of rural community life such as social networks, community engagement, safety and trust in relation to the health and HIV/AIDS awareness of school-aged girls living in this environment. Using focus group discussions and structured writing exercises, we collected information from 18 schoolgirls aged 9 to 16 years about community structure, friendship networks, participation in community life, and issues of safety and trust. We further explored concepts of health and perspectives on HIV/AIDS. Findings revealed a close-knit community in which girls were social as well as economic participants. Girls felt safe, trusted their elders and had an awareness of health and HIV related issues. These social capital elements can play an important role in HIV prevention for girls in the rural caribbean. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Trust (Psychology), Focus Groups, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Friendship, Writing Exercises, Social Networks, Social Capital, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Females, Rural Areas, Community Influence, Safety, Student Attitudes, Participation, Attitude Measures, Elementary School Students, Secondary School Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Bahamas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A