The African AIDS Epidemic: A History by John Iliffe

From the Publisher

This book is aimed initially at students who want to study the history of the Aids epidemic but who currently have no starting point from which to enter the vast and often technical literature. Other readers will also find it a helpful introduction to a subject of immense contemporary importance. This book explains the origins and nature of the virus and the unique epidemic it has caused: the progress of the epidemic across the African continent; the circumstances that have made its impact so severe; the responses of governments, international bodies and NGOs; the moral and political controversies; the effect on households, social systems and economics; the care of the sick and the search for remedies and vaccines; and the impact of antiretroviral treatments. This book uses medical, anthropological and eye-witness sources but assumes no prior knowledge. Professor Iliffe has forty years experience of teaching in Africa and Britain. His books on modern African history are renowned. North America: Ohio U Press; South Africa: Double Storey/Juta

Library Journal

In a letter addressed to world leaders in April 2000, South African President Thabo Mbeki wanted to know why Africa has suffered so severely from the AIDS epidemic. Iliffe (modern history, Univ. of Cambridge; Africans: The History of a Continent) attempts to answer his question by providing readers with a historical perspective on AIDS. He traces its origins and spread across Africa and discusses the negative and positive aspects of its management. Iliffe attributes the severity of the situation to the fact that the African continent suffered the first AIDS epidemic and that the disease was already widespread in the general population before its discovery. In a number of fascinating chapters, he describes the personal and social components of HIV/AIDS in Africa-e.g., particular societal groups were blamed for causing the disease, infected persons were ostracized, and death from the disease stigmatized family members and African society as a whole. Extensive notes from primarily medical resources and a reading list are provided for each chapter. An appropriate resource for patrons interested in researching the evolution of AIDS in Africa, this scholarly book is recommended for academic libraries.-Rebecca Raszewski, Drexel Univ. Health Sciences Libs., Philadelphia Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

• Table of Contents

Table of Contents