DIVIDUALITY, MASCULINE RESPECTABILITY AND REPUTATION: HOW MASCULINITY AFFECTS MEN’S UPTAKE OF HIV TREATMENT IN RURAL EASTERN UGANDA

MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Makerere University, University of East Anglia, MRC Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

The study investigates the intersection of masculinity and HIV treatment uptake among men in rural eastern Uganda. It reveals that societal norms around masculinity significantly influence men's decisions regarding HIV treatment, often leading to delayed initiation and higher mortality rates. Through qualitative research methods, the authors explore themes of masculinity, respectability, and the social pressures that affect men's health-seeking behaviors. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions that consider the cultural context of masculinity in health care.