„This is my house“ – Heidimbis Kindheit, oder: Vom Schrecken und der Notwendigkeit neuer Institutionen in Zeiten von AIDS in Namibia

Abstract

Namibia has one of the highest HIV infection rates world-wide – more than 23% of the adult population is estimated to be HIV-positive. It is crucial for the understanding of the pandemic, to investigate further the social conditions that provided AIDS with favourable conditions to spread. One can argue that the high infection rates are a direct outcome of different processes of modernisation that have dominated Namibian life over the past 150 years. The transformation and disruption of traditional patterns of social and economic life have led to a high susceptibility for the epidemic spread of the disease. On the other hand it can be observed, that the existing social figurations are of an enormous capability. Within the networks of extended family lies still an admirable capacity and willingness to care. However, the burdens are growing rapidly with increasing numbers of ill, dying and remaining orphans, emerging the question if there are new institutions, that can convert or strengthen the extended family networks.