This document summarizes a study exploring how socio-cultural and political factors influence behavior change related to HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Key findings include: 1) Social and cultural institutions like funerals, churches and savings groups significantly shape behaviors and responses to HIV/AIDS. 2) While policies promoting HIV/AIDS education and treatment have helped, some cultural practices still hinder prevention efforts. 3) Communities with strong social networks and capital are better able to respond to HIV/AIDS impacts. The study concludes socio-cultural cohesion and supportive policies are critical to effectively address HIV/AIDS.

2. Exploring the role of socio-cultural and
political construct in influencing behaviour
change in Zimbabwe - The case of HIV and
AIDS affected households in Makoni
district.
Matsvange Diego1
Brighton Kashiri2
, Beloved Bhasopo2
Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT)

3. RESEARCH BACKGROUND
•Over the years the fight against effects of HIV and
AIDS has largely concentrated on the financial, human
and physical capital.
•Little attention was accorded for social, cultural and
governance dimensions.
•The absence of a strong social network limits the
capacity of HIV and AIDS affected households to fully
recover from HIV and AIDS related shocks.

4. BACKGROUND
•Culture, social capital and the governance are
recognised as emerging determinants for HIV
and AIDS reduction factors
•Paper stresses the value of social capital in the
fight against HIV and AIDS
•It examines the net effects of culture and
governance in developing the social economy.

5. Research objectives
•Assessing the role of community safety nets on
mitigating the effects of HIV and AIDS in rural settings
•Determining the extent to which social capital is
complemented by culture and governance
•Establish key players in the social economy, their
roles and frustrations

6. …About social economics
“Reciprocity
is the social mechanism that makes associational life
possible.
When reciprocity finds economic expression for the provision
of goods and services to people and communities it is the
social economy that results.”
John Restakis 2006

7. SOCIAL ECONOMY
• Examines how social norms, ethics and other social
philosophies influence behaviour change and shape HH
economy,
• Economics that focuses on the relationship between social behavior
and economics

8. Social capital
• Institutions, relationships, and norms that shape the quality
and quantity of a society's social interactions.

9. Adapted theory of change analysis

10. The Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)
•SCT proposes that people are driven not by inner
forces, but by external factors.
•Suggests that human functioning can be explained by a
triadic interaction of behaviour, personal and
environmental factors.
•This is often known as reciprocal determinism.

11. Generalised findings

12. Key findings policy framework
• The policy framework in Zimbabwe incorporating HTS,
free access to condoms and information is key in
influencing behaviour change
• Zimbabwe’s National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan 2011-
2015
• zero new HIV infections;
• zero discrimination; and
• zero AIDS-related deaths by 2015‟

13. Key findings – the social eonomy
• 100% of respondents have been affected by HIV and AIDS
• 88% of these were female respondents
• Social and cultural platforms :
• funerals,
• meetings,
• Church
• traditional gatherings
• identified as key in influencing behaviour.

14. Key institutions and influence – the social
economy
• Clinics
• Savings groups
• Government
• NGOs
• Youth centres
• Support groups
• BCFs, VHWs

15. Key findings – the social eonomy

16. Key findings- socio-cultural practices
• There are still some cultural practices that militate the fight against
HIV and AIDS ranked by perception as follows:

17. Key findings- socio-cultural practices
• Concurs well with the HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe report - 2013

18. Key facts
• Human lives are not lived in isolation
• It is the cultural, socio-political factor that surround and
buttresses human behaviour

19. Conclusions
• Households living with limited social capital comparatively
struggle more to recover from any form of shocks.
• CBSs are an integral component for the provision of social
capital.
• The effectiveness of these is however a function of political
environment and culture

20. …Conclusions
• Churches and savings groups are key in shaping human morality and
behaviour in communities affected by HIV and AIDS
• These institutions can also be disfranchised by a polarised political
environment or governance systems
• Functional community systems cultivate people's beliefs in their
capabilities.
• Socio-cultural cohesion is critical for societies to prosper economically
and for development to be sustainable.
• Culture plays an important role in shaping people behaviour and their
perceptions on HIV and AIDS.

21. Conclusions
• Savings groups improves social capital in marginalized communities
• Presence of social capital improves the effectiveness of HIV and AIDS
reduction
• Use of community based structures stimulates the accumulation of
social capital.
• Social capital is not just the sum of the institutions which underpin a
society – it is the glue that holds them together.
• A supportive policy and cultural system enriches the social capital
and enhances behaviour change

22. Recommendation
•Use of community led responses key in unlocking the
social capital
•Listen,
•Learn
• Act
•Governments should provide an enabling socio-
economic and political environment to effectively
drive the HIV and AIDS reduction agenda

23. Think point
•Mahaka (2001:82) observes and reiterates that
“we cannot hope to combat the HIV/AIDS scourge if
we ignore the socio-cultural forces that shape the
behaviour of the people”.

24. Acknowledged Contributors
• David Chikoka
• Tinashe Takaidza
• Tapiwa Mandudzo
• Godfrey Mahangate
• Brilliance
• Rejoice Macheka
• Constance Mutambara