This research was undertaken in order to break the silence of women living with HIV in Bamenda Region of Cameroon taking into account the severe impact of the disease on their social aspirations, cultures and traditions. The research looked at how living with HIV and the stigma associated with it in the society has severely limited women's choices and agency. Not being able to bear children is highly problematic as motherhood holds the highest cultural value for women in the Region. In-depth interviews were conducted to find out the experiences and perceptions of women living with HIV looking at their aspirations with regard to child bearing as well as the responses from the community. The findings indicated that HIV positive women find it challenging to exercise their agency to bear children due to lack of information and external pressures. The research also found avenues where it was possible for women to speak out and make informed choices through the support of Church groups and health clinics which approached the women's condition holistically taking into account the socio-cultural as well as medical aspects.

Harcourt, Wendy
hdl.handle.net/2105/13039
Women, Gender, Development (WGD)
International Institute of Social Studies

Ntoh Yuh, J. (2012, December 14). Child Bearing in Times of HIV/AIDS: Breaking the silence of women living with HIV and the socio cultural impact with regards to child bearing and family life in the North West Region of Cameroon.. Women, Gender, Development (WGD). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2105/13039