Much of the research on orphan and vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa has focused on their risks and vulnerabilities. This article describes the ‘funds of knowledge’ (Moll and Greenberg, 1990) and means of acquiring new knowledge of children living in child-headed households in Uganda’s Rakai District. Using ethnographic methods, the authors documented the experiences and activities of children in five rural home contexts. They advance the view of children as resourceful, competent, and knowledgeable, highlighting their ability to build on, utilize, and acquire new funds of knowledge while simultaneously recognizing their conditions of extreme adversity. The authors’ aim is to expand and strengthen the current knowledge base on children living in child-headed households by providing a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between children’s risks and capabilities.

This book, which was originally written as a dissertation, broadens the approach to gender equality in primary education by exploring the magnitude of complex interactions between schools and rural livelihood household processes in the context of HIV/AIDS. The arguments are based on recent ethnographic research using dimensions of rural pupils’, parents’, and teachers’ responses to the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS on their livelihoods. It gives insight into some of the current debates that have been generated in the field of education, HIV/AIDS and rural livelihoods.

Infant feeding among mothers of African descent living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a critical practice that is influenced by policies, cultural expectations, and the resultant psychosocial state of the mother. Hence, this paper draws insights from a broader infant feeding study. It provides insights into how guidelines on infant feeding practices, cultural expectations, migration, or geographic status intersect to influence the psychosocial experiences of mothers living with HIV. We compared psychosocial experiences of Black mothers of African descent living with HIV in Nigeria versus those in high-income countries (Canada and USA), in the context of contrasting national infant feeding guidelines, cultural beliefs about breastfeeding, and geographic locations. Survey was conducted in venue-based convenience samples in two comparative groups: (Ottawa, Canada and Miami-FL, USA combined [n = 290]), and (Port Harcourt, Nigeria [n = 400]). Using independent samples t-statistics, we compared the means and distributions of six psychosocial attributes between Black mothers in two distinct: Infant feeding groups (IFGs), cultural, and geographical contexts at p < 0.05. Psychosocial attributes, such as discrimination and stigma, were greater in women who exclusively formula feed (EFF) than in women who exclusively breastfeed (EBF) at p < 0.01. Heightened vigilance, discrimination, and stigma scores were greater in women whose infant feeding practices were informed by cultural beliefs (CBs) compared to those not informed by CBs at p < 0.001. Discrimination and stigma scores were greater among mothers in Canada and the USA than in Nigeria at p < 0.001. Heightened vigilance and perceived stress scores were less among women in Canada and the USA than in Nigeria at p < 0.001. The guidelines on infant feeding practices for mothers with HIV should consider cultural expectations and migration/locational status of mothers.

This article examines some methodological issues in using the life history approach in social research. Although there are diverse opinions on how the approach should be used, there are certain methods of collecting, analysing, and reporting ensuing data that are often associated with it; these methods were used by the authors in recent studies carried out in Uganda and Zimbabwe. The authors’ experiences show that conducting life history research in the area of HIV and AIDS in a rural African context presents some methodological and ethical dilemmas, which cannot always be resolved. The paper also highlights the methodological, moral, and ethical dilemmas faced by African women carrying out research on other African women, and some ways of resolving these.

Objectives: The dominant discourse in literature often constructs heterosexual African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) masculinity as inherently problematic and in need of “correction, repair, or rescue.” This discourse privileges hegemonic male standards and conceals the power relations that shape racialized masculinities. Our study of self-identified heterosexual ACB men and male youth examines how performative and perceptual attenuations of hegemonic masculinity can moderate social and behavioural vulnerabilities in the context of HIV prevention, transmission, and survival. Methods: We used descriptive qualitative methods informed by community-based participatory research. Individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 63 ACB men and male youth (aged 16 and above) residing in Ottawa, Canada, including community leaders, HIV service providers, and decision makers. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed with NVivo software. Member-checking, peer debriefing, and external audit ensured trustworthiness of data. Results: ACB men and male youth define masculinity by their ability to provide for, protect, love, and lead their families. Within ACB cultures, men demonstrate their masculinity through their traditional role as family breadwinners, and are expected to be strong, bold, and responsible. This positive view of masculinity is potentially beneficial to the well-being of ACB men and male youth, and challenges mainstream notions of Black masculinity as uncontrolled, risky, toxic, or even predatory. Conclusion: A positive view of masculinity among ACB heterosexual men and youth could support future practice and policy interventions aimed at strengthening community responses to HIV and health.

While African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) mothers living with HIV in Canada are required to follow public health guidelines by exclusively formula feeding their infants, they also face cultural expectations from peers and family members to breastfeed. They face multiple challenges because of their race, ethnicity, gender, class, and geographical location, among other factors. Previously published studies on this subject did not analyze how the intersectionality of these factors impacts Black mothers’ infant feeding experiences. In this article, we discuss the infant feeding practices of Black mothers living with HIV in Ottawa (Canada). We followed a qualitative methods research design that utilized intersectionality and a community-based participatory research approach. We used the intersectionality framework as a lens to analyze the complex mesh of determinants influencing motherhood experiences of ACB women living with HIV. Being a Black/ACB mother while living with HIV is a “whole story” permeated with cutting-across issues such as race, class, gender, socio-political, and cultural contexts. These issues are interwoven and often difficult to unravel. Multiple layers of structural determinants of Black/ACB women’s HIV vulnerability and health are described. Intersectionality is important for an in-depth understanding of societal power dynamics and their impact on women’s health inequities.