Cultures of Resilience and Adherence: Adaptation and Coping in the Context of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Botswana

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Fred Krüger
• Subject Area: Human Geography
• Term: from 2010 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 193505496

The project ties in with current transdisciplinary debates on risk, vulnerability and resilience. Against the background of the antiretroviral HIV/AIDS therapy programme in Botswana, it examines which, and in what ways, social conditions and processes are crucial for clients and patients to adhere to long-term medication. Dealing with the AIDS pandemic has become one of the greatest challenges for societies in Southern Africa. Tackling the pandemic has been undergoing fundamental changes since antiretroviral medication programmes were introduced. Sticking to long-term and continuous medication (adherence) is now the decisive factor for a successful management of the AIDS crisis. However, adherence must be effectively socially embedded and widely accepted such that it is integrated into everyday life routines as a proven matter of course. Adherence must be tolerated and encouraged. Adherence is thus closely linked to social resilience. Based both on theoretical considerations and empirical field work, the project attempts to assess the conditions for the development of a 'culture’ of resilience. Factors and processes which serve to encourage or impede social appropriation and resilience actions will be identified. The project pursues two strains of research: 1. to analyse cultures of resilience and adherence, and 2., adopting a metaperspective approach, to assess the explanatory potential of various cultural and epistemological considerations and their added value for an analysis of health-related topics in geographical development and risk studies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Botswana
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Raban Chanda