The “iKnow” Concert Series first started as a small concert in 2014 hosting 4,000. Astoundingly, by 2019, it had hosted a total of 300,000 while providing additional health benefits; HIV testing, products for reproductive health, cancer screening, etc. It was a massive success, and the ability to use music to together communities is commendable.
Literature Review
GLI’s reflection of the event was to put an intentional focus on encouraging more women to not only use health services at the concert but also to increase the reach to women before the concert for greater participation.
Our research aims to understand the existing barriers to women’s participation and provide some recommendations. Information in this research was provided through rapid appraisal and interviews with the community stakeholders, which included health workers, teachers, VHT, cultural and religious leaders.
According to Hussein and Ferguson (2019), the factors that create and strengthen stigmatization is closely linked with the social and cultural context of a geographical location. The weaker participation of women particularly as the evening falls can be assumed to be a reflection of the hierarchy between men and women embedded deeply within the social milieu of Ugandan culture. Women who stayed out late for the concert were sometimes shamed and labeled. Sociologists Parker and Aggleton have emphasized that discrimination against women is supported by the concept of power, privilege, and dominance (Parker and Aggleton, 2003).
Education
Adams et. al (2019) performed a study to assess the familiarity and thoughts of community members in Kabale regarding the “iKnow” Concert series. They found that the completion of high school was significantly associated with reduced negative attitudes towards HIV/AIDS. To support this, reports from UNFPA (2013) have shown that educated women are more open to talking about HIV/AIDS. They also show patterns of marrying at older ages, bearing children later, and tend to exercise greater control over their fertility (UNFPA, 2013).
However, other researchers have argued that academic education alone is not significant enough. Tsai and Venkataramani (2015) studied the implementation of the 1997 Primary Education Policy in Uganda using the 2011 Demographic and Health Survey. They found that additional years of education in Uganda does not have a causal effect on reducing negative attitudes about HIV. This suggests that academic education, single-handedly, may not suffice; perhaps an amalgamation of an academic as well as the social education of HIV would be most effective in reducing the stigma.
Cultural/ Religious Leaders
Given their respect and credible position in Ugandan society, religious and cultural leaders have shown to be important in the conversation around HIV/AIDS. While many organizations have promoted inclusivity and addressed misconceptions of HIV/AIDS, some faith-based organizations have associated it with immoral behaviors; sometimes seen as a punishment from God (Zou et. al, 2009). Therefore, empowering religious and cultural leaders with appropriate information to first address misconceptions, and then begin to initiate dialogue in the community should be prioritized.
Women Organizations
Women organizations play an important role in addressing HIV in women— building confidence to test for HIV, helping navigate their sickness, and providing a safe, empathic place to talk (US AID, 2013). According to Pinheiro (2006), women organizations helped generate greater access to productive resources. It allowed women to know their sexual and reproductive rights, decreasing their vulnerability to HIV.
Paudel and Baral (2015) studied the role of support groups as a coping strategy in 7 different countries by employing a literature search. They found that being a part of women support groups decreased feelings of isolation and shame. They helped women to increase their social networks, improve self-care behaviors as well as decreased risk behaviors for re-infection. The researchers recommend women support groups to be offered as a fundamental service to those battling HIV/AIDS (Paudel and Baral, 2015).
