Doctoral Dissertation Research: Testing Differences: The Transfer and Transformation of HIV Testing from the West to Sub-Saharan Africa

主要研究者：Mark Regnerus Co-PI：Nicole Angotti职务：博士论文研究：测试差异：本文运用历史和实地研究的方法，提出了两个研究问题：（1）特定的西方规范，在这种情况下，艾滋病毒检测实践，是如何成为全球标准的？以及（2）在撒哈拉以南非洲的文化传播过程中，艾滋病毒检测实践是否已经从西方的设计中转变过来，如果是，是谁以何种方式转变过来的？该项目的非洲个案研究地点是马拉维：这是撒哈拉以南非洲的一个贫穷国家，大部分是农村国家，艾滋病毒流行率在世界上排名第八。这项研究解决了对社会科学和全球卫生政策具有广泛意义的问题。首先，虽然许多研究证明全球规范的制度化确实发生了，但很少有研究讨论它是如何发生的。其次，大多数关于艾滋病毒检测的研究仅仅从其作为公共卫生干预措施的有效性方面对其进行了评估。然而，没有任何研究集中于为艾滋病毒检测提供信息的各种机构和社会行为者（国际和国家决策者、艾滋病毒保健提供者及其服务的客户）对艾滋病毒检测规范的多种解释，这些差异总是影响到提供检测的方式。 这项研究的结果将通过出版物和专业会议向学术界以及马拉维卫生官员和提供者以及协助他们的地方、国家和国际组织传播。

PI: Mark RegnerusCo-PI: Nicole AngottiTitle: Doctoral Dissertation Research: Testing Differences: Health Screening Across CountriesAbstract Utilizing historical and field research methods, this dissertation addresses two research questions: (1) How did particular Western norms, in this case HIV testing practices, become a global standard?; and (2) Have HIV testing practices been transformed from their Western design in the process of their cultural diffusion in sub-Saharan Africa, and if so, by whom and in what ways? The site of the African case study for this project is Malawi: a poor, largely rural, country of sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV prevalence is eighth highest in the world. This research addresses questions with broad significance for social science and global health policy. First, while much research has documented that the institutionalization of global norms does occur, little research has addressed how it occurs. Second, most studies of HIV testing have evaluated it solely in terms of its efficacy as a public health intervention. No research, however, has focused on the multiple interpretations of HIV testing norms from among the various institutional and social actors who inform the HIV testing encounter (international and national policy makers, HIV health providers, and the clients they serve), differences that invariably affect the way in which testing is provided. Findings from this research will be disseminated to the academic community via publications and professional conferences, as well as to Malawian health officials and providers, and the local, national and international organizations that assist them.