Provided by Institute of Education EPrints
Abstract
Little attention has been given to understanding the emotional well-being of people
living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries despite the fact that emotions may
impact on people’s sense of purpose and value, and ultimately their ability and resolve
to hold livelihood and familial responsibilities together. Drawing upon research
undertaken in the Caprivi Region of Namibia, this paper examines the use of solicited
text and photo diaries in enabling insight into the emotional impacts of HIV/AIDS.
The advantages and constraints of diary methods are examined, focusing on
informant-directed research and the ethical considerations surrounding their use.
Keywords: Namibia, HIV/AIDS, emotions, well-being, solicited diaries, visual
methods
Introduction
Undermining and even reversing the development efforts of recent decades, the
HIV/AIDS pandemic constitutes one of the most profound and complex challenges
facing poverty alleviation in ‘developing’ countries. Although research on HIV/AIDS
has been dominated by a focus upon the illness as solely a clinical condition requiring
medical treatment, a steadily increasing literature exists to examine the social and
economic impacts of HIV/AIDS. In particular, focus has been placed upon rural
livelihoods (Mathambo Mtika 2003; Rugalema 1999), microeconomic household
impacts (Yamano and Jayne 2004; Russell 2004), changing demographics and
dependency (Monasch and Boerma 2004; Williams and Tumwekwase 2001; Foster et