The war on AIDS: Addressing the spread of HIV/AIDS during armed conflict and peacekeeping missions in Africa

During the past two decades, Africa has been beset by the AIDS epidemic and armed conflicts, which together have undermined the security of millions of people. This thesis explores the dynamics between these crises, and examines the policies created by the United Nations and African governments to address the spread of HIV/AIDS during conflict. These efforts have centered on the armed forces, which have high HIV prevalence levels and serve as a bridge between high-risk groups and civilians, especially during war. Drawing insights from ethnographic research in Zambia, this thesis argues that prevention strategies aimed at this group have not impacted soldiers' risky behaviors because they rely too heavily on passive, large-scale briefings and ineffective codes of conduct, rather than addressing the attitudes and social norms that hinder behavior change. The discussion also highlights the need to confront the underlying vulnerabilities putting civilians in danger of HIV infection during conflict.