This document summarizes a presentation about myths and facts that serodiscordant couples in Malawi have about HIV/AIDS. It defines key terms like serodiscordant couples and outlines the HIV problem in Malawi. It then describes a study that interviewed serodiscordant couples to understand their experiences with HIV/AIDS information. The study found challenges couples face in accessing reliable information. It identifies 6 common myths couples believe, such as that mosquitoes or shaking hands can transmit HIV. The myths increase stigma and discourage condom use or treatment adherence.

1. Myths or Facts
what serodiscordant couples in Malawi know about
HIV and AIDS
Librarians’ Information Literacy Annual Conference, 25th April 2014
Kondwani Wella
Information School

2. Outline of the presentation
• Definitions
• HIV problem in Malawi
• The study
• Challenges serodiscordant couples face when
accessing HIV and AIDS information
• 6 Myths
• Effect of the myths

3. Malawi

4. Definitions
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): It is a virus that
infects cells of the human immune system.
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS): This is a
surveillance term based on signs, symptoms, infections,
and cancers that manifest as a result of being infected with
the HIV virus and the resultant suppression of the immune
system
• Serodiscordant couple: This is a couple in which one
partner is HIV-positive and one partner is HIV-negative
• Experience: A person being consciously affected by
phenomena through which subjectivity is drawn into
meaning

5. The HIV problem in Malawi
• 1985: First HIV case identified in Malawi
• 2010: 11% of adults aged 15-49 infected with HIV in Malawi
• 2010: 13% women and 8% men aged 15-49 infected with HIV in
Malawi
• 12% of the world population live in Sub Saharan Africa
• 69% of all people living with HIV world wide lived in Sub Saharan
Africa in 2011
• 71% of all new HIV infections occur in Sub Saharan Africa
• 80% of new HIV infections in Malawi occurred among serodiscordant
couples in 2011
• In 2009 WHO identified serodiscordant couples as a group at
high risk BUT not included in many HIV prevention programmes

6. The study
Research question
How do serodiscordant couples in Malawi experience HIV and AIDS
information?
Research approach
Phenomenology: Seeks to understand how people experience a
particular phenomenon

7. Methods: Data collection
• In-depth interviews
–Interviewed couples; both partners together
–Interviewed them in their homes
• Observations
–After interviews I asked couples to show me
information objects they had

8. Sample
• 21 serodiscordant couples (42 participants) and 3
participants who had separated from their partners
• Urban-Lilongwe City and rural - Dedza District
• Interviews were conducted between September and
October 2013
• 10 couples had the female partner HIV positive
• 11 had the male partner HIV positive.
• Two of the couples that had separated had the male
partner HIV positive.

9. Access to HIV and AIDS information: the
challenges
• Serodiscordance itself is a challenge: the two
partners have different information needs
• The HIV negative partner was considered “a spy” in
forums for HIV positive people
• Limited reliable sources (e.g. Not many have access
to internet and libraries)
• Lack of information literacy skills
(most couples believed all HIV
and AIDS information is correct
and useful)

10. .... Challenges
• Inaccessible formats
– Due to illiteracy some couples could not use print information
resources
– Some couples could not read information resources in
English
• Language
– information is in English and needs to be translated
– Translation is problematic due to lack of culturally acceptable
and appropriate terminology
– Translation sometimes leads to ambiguity of messages
• Some HIV and AIDS messages are deemed unafrican
and obscene

11. Myths
Myth 1: Mosquitoes can transmit HIV
“….sometimes they say on the radio that the virus can come
from injections that are not sterilised, sometimes through
blood transfusion, even mosquitoes…” (couple #13)
Myth 2: If I shake my husband’s hand I will be
infected
“Yes, they were just talking; saying that when someone is
HIV positive we should avoid getting closer to them because
they can transmit the virus to you. That distressed me
because I eat from the same plate with my husband” (couple
# 21).

12. …….myths
Myth 3: If my spouse is HIV positive then am also
positive
“In my mind I had already established it; there is no need to
use condoms, am already infected, the virus is just hiding,
you see, I did not have enough information when all this
was happening…” (couple #17)
Myth 4: If I reach organism faster than my wife I will
not get infected
“… a man should be fast when doing things; if you are slow
you will get infected….in bed I always make sure I get
there before her”. (couple #19)

13. …. myths
Myth 5: Condoms have a hole through which the virus
can pass through
“…those condoms, we are told that they have some form
of air that can enter your body… They told us that
condoms are not 100% perfect …. they were made for
people who don’t listen to advice” (couple #7).
Myth 6: When you are on ART the virus becomes
dormant/sleeps therefore no need to use condoms
“…I heard from friends that when one is on ART the virus
is weakened, it becomes useless…” (couple #14)

14. Effects on information literacy
• Increase in stigma and therefore affect information
seeking (myth 1 & 2)
• Couples resign to fate which increases transmission of
HIV among serodiscordant couples (myth 3)
• Male ego which marginalises women, making them
unable to act on HIV and AIDS information (myth 4)
• Some myths distort the intended message of HIV and
AIDS information (e.g. those perpetuated by translation)
(myth 6)
• Some myths create a sense of guilt (e.g. those
perpetuated with the church) (myth 5)

15. References
Malawi Government. (2012). 2012 Global AIDS Response Progress
Report: Malawi Country Report for 2010 and 2011. Lilongwe, Malawi:
Malawi Government.
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. (2012b). Global report
UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic : 2012. Geneva:
UNAIDS.

16. Acknowledgements
Kondwani Wella is a Commonwealth Scholar, funded
by the UK government.
PhD project is supervised by Ms Sheila Webber and
Prof. Philippa Levy
Conference registration sponsored by University of
Sheffield, Information School

17. Stop AIDS.
Keep the Promise!
Thank you