This thesis has been organized into eight chapters. Beginning with this chapter, which provides a background or framework upon which all the chapters evolve. While almost every chapter is backed with literature on most issues being discussed, the second chapter in particular, draws purely on relevant literature for the case study of Basotho women of child bearing age who are living with HIV and AIDS age and how they cope with this life threatening pandemic. The third chapter, discusses the theoretical framework that grounds the study. Chapter Four focuses on the design and methodology of the study. Chapters Five and Six present an analysis of the
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narratives from the study participants. Chapter Seven looks at the findings in relation to the grounding theories of the study and the last chapter (Chapter Eight) wraps up all the narratives, and provides the researcher’s reflections and conclusions.
Chapter Two: Literature Review
This chapter brings in scholarly views about a number of areas including HIV and AIDS and women; gender power relations, patriarchal system and how it impacts on the effective utilisation and accessibility of HIV and AIDS services. The other areas focused on are women’s disclosure of their HIV positive status and the various reactions from their partners, children, in-laws, friends and communities to that disclosure. Scholarly reflections detailing the stigma and discrimination as distinct barriers to the effective utilization of HIV and AIDS services among women, and the reproductive needs of women as well as the societal expectation of young women, within the marital circles. The issues concerning processes of learning form part of the literature that this chapter reviews, in order to explore various forms of learning that the women go through.
Chapter Three: Theoretical framework
The study is grounded in three bodies of theory: feminist approaches; transformative learning;
and communities of practice. Each of the three theories is discussed broadly in their individual sections. The first section looks at the four waves or approaches to feminism: how they evolved and the key tenets of each wave. It identifies which approach the study adopts and examines the women’s ability to challenge the status quo of breaking the silence around HIV and AIDS. Part two examines the theory of transformative learning as proposed by Jack Mezirow in his 10-phase learning process and the reviews of his theory by other scholars such as Cranton, Taylor and Ntseane. Part three discusses communities of practice theory as developed and refined by Lave and Wenger.
28 Chapter Four: Research design and methodology
This chapter locates the study within a case study methodology that uses an interpretivist paradigm with the unit of analysis being a group of Basotho women belonging to PBA who are living with HIV and AIDS, and already taking HIV treatment. The data was collected through questionnaires, individual interviews and group discussions. The data was then analysed, using coding and thematic content analysis. Throughout the data collection process, ethical considerations were maintained.
Chapter Five: Taking a bold step
This chapter presents the first phase of analysis and theorization of the narratives. The discussion centres around the metaphor of ‘taking a bold step’ on HIV testing, HIV disclosure and reaction by partners, children, in-laws, friends and society. These two key processes within HIV and AIDS continuum are considered bold steps that the women took. Each step has been unpacked to reflect the bold step process.
Chapter Six: Picking up the pieces and moving on
This chapter is the second phase within the taking a bold step continuum. It looks at the women when they make informed choices of regaining and reclaiming their health; when they ‘pick up the pieces’ of their lives, after the life shattering news that they have been infected with HIV, by accessing treatment as well as joining the HIV and AIDS support groups to learn within the groups and thus transforming the communities’ perceptions about HIV infection.
Chapter Seven: Findings in relation to the theories
The chapter critically looks at the findings in chapters five and six and relates them to the study’s three theories of feminism, transformative learning and communities of practice.
Feminism: Key discussions centre around patriarchy, oppression, solidarity decision-making and partnership.
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Transformative learning theory: Building on the 10-phase learning continuum as developed by Mezirow, the findings centre on identification of a disorienting dilemma, reflection and perspective transformation.
Communities of Practice Theory: Using the communities of practice lens, key findings are discussed along identity, participation, from periphery to centre, moving from novice to expert, meaning-making, and networking.
Chapter Eight: Conclusion and Next steps
This chapter provides various reflections within the case study, the research questions, reflections on the narratives and it ends with my reflections about the methodology-and what learning emerges from conducting this case study. It includes the various lessons that have been learnt, recommendations for the future on this topic and new areas discovered that require further research and finally the concluding comments about this particular case study.
Conclusion
The chapter sets the scene or a foundation for other chapters to follow. It looked at the general global HIV and AIDS situation first, narrowed matters down to Africa and in Southern Africa in particular with a focus on women. The HIV and AIDS situation in Lesotho, the study country, was explored and explained where Lesotho is, in terms of the HIV situation and the efforts made thus far to halt the spread of the epidemic. This chapter provided an overview of the case study design and methodology. The structure of the thesis and chapter summaries were also provided.
The next chapter looks at what other scholars have written about women of child bearing age who are living with HIV and AIDS, their experiences, feelings and emotions in dealing with HIV and AIDS and their relations with their partners, family and society as a whole.
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