{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,19]],"date-time":"2025-09-19T09:28:26Z","timestamp":1758274106035,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,5,15]],"date-time":"2017-05-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1494806400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["AJIM"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,5,15]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Purpose<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The purpose of this paper is to report on research that uncovered myths about HIV and AIDS held by serodiscordant couples in Malawi, and the sources of these myths. The paper reflects on how the myths affect serodiscordant couples\u2019 engagement with HIV and AIDS information.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Van Manen\u2019s (1997) approach to analysis of phenomenological data was used to analyse data from in-depth interviews conducted in Malawi with 21 serodiscordant couples and three individuals who had separated from their partners because of serodiscordance.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Findings<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Serodiscordant couples in Malawi believe and hold on to some inaccurate HIV and AIDS information that can be seen as \u201cmyths\u201d. Some of these myths are perpetuated by official HIV and AIDS information when it is translated into the local languages. Other myths derive from social norms of the societies where the couples live.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>The findings of this paper have practical implications for how HIV and AIDS information providers should engage with target audiences to understand the origins of the myths they hold. The findings also imply that some myths have technical, religious, moral and cultural bases which need to be addressed before challenging the myth itself.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Using real-life descriptions of experiences of HIV and AIDS information provided by serodiscordant couples, the authors reveal how myths can affect engagement with the information. The authors make recommendations on how to address myths in ways that contribute to a positive experience of HIV and AIDS information by serodiscordant couples.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/ajim-12-2016-0202","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,5,22]],"date-time":"2017-05-22T11:09:07Z","timestamp":1495451347000},"page":"278-293","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Myths about HIV and AIDS among serodiscordant couples in Malawi"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"69","author":[{"given":"Kondwani","family":"Wella","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Sheila","family":"Webber","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Philippa","family":"Levy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref001","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.5923\/j.sociology.20140401.03","article-title":"Domestic violence against men: balancing the gender issues in Nigeria","volume":"4","year":"2014","journal-title":"American Journal of Sociological Research"},{"issue":"6842","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1605","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.304.6842.1605","article-title":"Effect of serotesting with counselling on condom use and seroconversion among HIV discordant couples in Africa","volume":"304","year":"1992","journal-title":"British Medical Journal"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1037\/a0027387","article-title":"Debunking vaccination myths: strong risk negations can increase perceived vaccination risks","volume":"32","year":"2013","journal-title":"Health Psychology"},{"issue":"8","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref031","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"999","DOI":"10.1080\/09540120500100718","article-title":"Living with discordance: knowledge, challenges, and prevention strategies of HIV-discordant couples in Uganda","volume":"17","year":"2005","journal-title":"AIDS Care"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1177\/1049909114546885","article-title":"Knowledge about hospice: exploring misconceptions, attitudes, and preferences for care","volume":"33","year":"2016","journal-title":"The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref032","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"381","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pec.2013.06.017","article-title":"Patient knowledge and recall of health information following exposure to \u2018facts and myths\u2019 message format variations","volume":"92","year":"2013","journal-title":"Patient Education and Counseling"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"518","DOI":"10.1521\/aeap.2006.18.6.518","article-title":"Understanding HIV\u2013related stigma and discrimination in a \u2018blameless\u2019 population","volume":"18","year":"2006","journal-title":"AIDS Education & Prevention"},{"issue":"5","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"446","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMsa1208051","article-title":"Myths, presumptions, and facts about obesity","volume":"368","year":"2013","journal-title":"New England Journal of Medicine"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref006","first-page":"S67","article-title":"The social construction of illness: key insights and policy implications","volume":"51","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of Health and Social Behavior"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref034","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.1007\/s11904-012-0114-z","article-title":"HIV-1 prevention for HIV-1 serodiscordant couples","volume":"9","year":"2012","journal-title":"Current HIV\/AIDS Reports"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2020120715463902000_ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.2989\/16085906.2013.863212","article-title":"Myths or theories? 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