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Pastoralism

Conceptualising the links between HIV/AIDS and pastoralist livelihoods

How pastoralists' livelihoods are affected by HIV/AIDS 

Authors: J. Morton
Publisher: Development Studies Association, UK and Ireland, 2003

Full text of document

How are pastoralist livelihoods affected by HIV/AIDS? What research is needed to uncover pastoralists’ particular vulnerabilities and/or resilience to HIV/AIDS and its impacts? This conceptual paper sets out to identify knowledge gaps on the linkages between pastoralist livelihoods and HIV/AIDS.

Pastoralists represent a large group of the poor and vulnerable in many countries where the effects of HIV/AIDS have long been felt, yet virtually no work has been done on the features of pastoralism which make pastoralist communities particularly vulnerable – or particularly resilient - to HIV/AIDS. The paper uses an understanding of pastoralist livelihoods – in terms of both core common features and diversity – to conceptualise these possible linkages.

The paper suggests that:

  • Features of pastoralism which might imply particular vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS include pastoral mobility; exclusion from health education; sexual networking in some communities; (seasonal) nutrition issues; and exposure to opportunistic infections associated with livestock.
  • Features of pastoralism which might be vulnerable to breakdown under the impact of AIDS, or might be a source of resilience, include collective institutions and networks build around resource management, labour and livestock transfers between households, and livestock sales.

    Apart from research on pastoral institutions as implied by the above, specific (and sensitive) research is also needed into:

  • Sero-prevalence rates amongst pastoralists in different communities, pastoralist labour migrants, and destitute pastoralists in towns and relief camps.
  • Sexual behaviour amongst pastoralists including migrants to establish meaningful interventions; and simple ways to control important opportunistic infections associated with livestock.