AIDS BOOK REVIEW JOURNAL No. 70

1162. Gender Mainstreaming in HIV/AIDS: Taking a Multisectoral Approach, by Commonwealth Secretariat, Maritime Centre of Excellence for Women's Health. 2002. Commonwealth Secretariat/Stylus Publishing, 2283 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012. 164p., illus., bibliog. (New Gender Mainstreaming Series on Development Issues) 0-85092-655-6. $17.95.
(Descriptors: Gender Analysis; Men; Women; Young People; Canada)

"The ultimate goal of gender mainstreaming is to achieve gender equality. It requires that both men's and women's concerns are considered in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally." With this in mind, the Commonwealth Ministers Responsible for Women's Affairs mandated that a Gender Management Systems (GMS) be developed, being "a holistic system-wide approach to bringing a gender perspective to bear in the mainstream of all government policies, plans and programmes." The GMS for HIV/AIDS strives to ensure that there is integration of gender into all government policies, programmes and activities that impact on the epidemic.

This reference manual is an overview of some of the major gender issues in the HIV/AIDS pandemic and offers some solutions. It was intended for the Commonwealth countries so that ongoing and upgraded national monitoring and evaluation mechanisms could be put in place. In Sub-Saharan Africa more than 28 million are HIV positive and some 17 million have already died of AIDS and the toll is climbing. The frightening result is that by 2010 there will be more than 40 million orphans in Africa. Education of all the people is the biggest challenge in order to dispel the myth that this is just a "gay disease." Governments, religions, organizations, and individuals are beginning to work together to educate all of the people. Challenges include the lack of control over sex and reproduction, growing female poverty, trafficking and sex work, and domestic violence. This book outlines this daunting task and gives the reader and inside look at what is being done and what needs to be done. Nine case studies are presented which indicate how the program has worked thus far in Canada, Zimbabwe, Southern Africa, and Bangladesh.

There is an extensive bibliography as well as a listing of the UN Guidelines on HIV-Related Human Rights and the Global and Commonwealth Mandates on Gender and HIV/AIDS. This is an excellent overview that provides a wealth of information useful to academic researchers. It is highly recommended for all academic and health science libraries.

1163. Science of Marijuana, by Leslie L. Iversen. 2002. Oxford University Press, 198 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016. 283p., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-19-513123-1, 0-19-515110-0pbk.
(Descriptors: Marijuana; Physiological Effects; Toxicology; Pharmacology; Cannabis; Adverse Effects)

The use of marijuana has long been advocated as an alternative way to treat AIDS. Unfortunately, it is illegal in most Western countries, thus preventing its use for medical purposes. "This book seeks to describe what is known about how marijuana acts in the brain, and to compare the profile of marijuana with other drugs that are used because of their euphoriant or psychostimulant effects-cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, alcohol, and nicotine." The attitudes against the use of marijuana are deeply entrenched but large-scale clinical trials are beginning to show that these attitudes are in jeopardy. Of interest to AIDS patients is the interest in controlling wasting. Other researchers are looking at the use of marijuana in the treatment of pain, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, epilepsy, bronchial asthma, and mood disorders and sleep. This is by far one of the best books that discusses marijuana in terms of its use throughout the world. It is not biased, presenting the good and bad sides of marijuana use. As more and more clinical trials are established, we will know more of how this drug may benefit many individuals throughout the world. A recommended book for all public and academic libraries.

1164. Mobilising Gender Issues: Report from the Living for Tomorrow Project on Youth, Gender and HIV/AIDS Prevention, by Jill Lewis. 2002. Nordic Institute for Women's Studies and Gender Research, PO Box 1156 Blindern, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway. 82p. bibliog. ISBN 82-7864-011-4. order from http://www.nikk.uio.no/forskningsprojekt/livingfortomorrow
(Descriptors: Education; Estonia; Young People)

The Living for Tomorrow project has grown out of years of activity in Estonia where it is "aimed to combine gender theory and research with action implementation to approach youth, sexual safety and HIV prevention with a challenging focus on gender." This report is an overview of the outcomes and learning processes. For those studying the behavior of young people towards HIV/AIDS, this overview will be very helpful. The report is very complete, providing a great deal to think about and do further work on. It is a recommended book for all academic libraries.

1165. HIV Vaccines in Canada: Legal and Ethical Issues: An Overview, by David Garmaise. 2002. Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, 417 Rue St-Pierre, Ste 408, Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 2M4. 45p. ISBN 1-896735-41-X. order from http://www.clearinghouse.cpha.ca
(Descriptors: Vaccines; Canada; Ethics)

This overview provided by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network gives a summary of the major legal and ethical issues related to the development and delivery of an HIV vaccine in Canada. Although the focus is on Canada, many of the issues also apply to other developed countries. It discusses the investment in HIV vaccine development and delivery research. Following this discussion is a summary of HIV vaccine clinical trial programs once a vaccine is available for testing, including recruitment, informed consent, obligations to participants, stigma and discrimination, and finally HIV vaccine delivery. Obviously all of this has serious legal and ethical repercussions that need to be fully understood by all participants. "Prior to implementing a vaccine delivery program, governments should ensure that the target communities are provided with (a) clear and comprehensive information about the benefits, efficacy, safety, and risks of the HIV vaccine; and (b) information on the risks of not being vaccinated."

The full background paper: HIV/AIDS and Vaccines: Legal and Ethical Issues can be found on the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network website at http://www.aidslaw.ca/Maincontent/issues/vaccines.htm . This is a recommended book for all academic and medical libraries.

1166. Establishing Safe Injection Facilities in Canada: Legal and Ethical Issues, by Richard Elliott, Ian Malkin, Jennifer Gold. 2002. Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, 417 Rue St-Pierre, Ste. 408, Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 2M4. 68p., bibliog. ISBN 1-896735-39-8. order from http://www.clearinghouse.cpha.ca
(Descriptors: Legal Aspects; Ethical Aspects; Canada; Switzerland; German; Netherlands; Australia)

Injection drug use is a continuing problem throughout the world. "People who inject drugs face serious potential health risk, including fatal and non-fatal overdoses and bloodborne diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C." In order to reduce the potential harm to drug users, one idea is to establish safe injection facilities or safe injection sites or supervised injection facilities. These facilities or cites are places in which drug users are able to inject using clean equipment under the supervision of medically trained personnel. The drug users provide the drugs and the personnel do not administer the drugs. This strategy has been used successfully in Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands and is in the clinical trial stage in Australia. There is a growing concern that we should have a drug policy that is harm reduction rather than drug prohibition. In Vancouver a four pillar approach is being tested: prevention focuses on education; treatment involves numerous interventions and support programs; enforcement combats organized crime and drug dealing; and harm reduction focuses on decreasing the negative consequences of drug use.

This book discusses the pros and cons of this harm reduction philosophy, providing documented evidence that it does help to reduce drug-related infections such as HIV as well as providing a way to work with those who are using drugs and possibly providing rehabilitation alternatives. This is a new way of looking at drug use and needs to be taken seriously. Trying to prohibit drug use only increases its use and greatly increases the multitude of diseases that are the result of drug use. Researchers who are looking into harm reduction, as a way of combating drug use will find this paper a valuable resource. It is extensively documented. All academic and health science libraries will find it a useful resource for their collection.

1167. Landscape with Human Figure, by Rafael Campo. 2002. Duke University Press, PO Box 90660, Durham, NC 27708-0660. 88p. ISBN 0-8223-2875-5, 0-8223-2890-9pbk. $42.95, $15.95pbk.
(Descriptors: Cuban Americans; Medicine; Gay Men; Poetry)

This collection of poems is by Rafael Campo, who is a medical doctor practicing general internal medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He has been awarded numerous prizes for his poetry, with this his fourth and most compelling collection, a candidate for another award. In today's hustle and bustle, this collection of poems is highly recommended to take your mind off of yourself and learn how others might react to life and death, laughter and sorrow, and love and hate. A must book for all academic and public libraries as well as the personal collections who truly appreciate great poets.

1168. Night is Young: Sexuality in Mexico in the Time of AIDS, by Héctor Carrillo. 2002. University of Chicago Press, 1427 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637. 371p., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-226-09302-6, 0-226-09303-4pbk. $58.00, $20.00pbk.
(Descriptors: Mexico; Case Studies; Prevention)

This book provides "an initial flavor of the place that sex and sexuality occupy in Mexicans' lives, as well as of how Mexicans manage and negotiate their sexual lives. From a different perspective, this book is nothing more than one glimpse of an aspect of life in Mexico that is not only very complex but also not well studied or empirically understood." Carrillo discusses sexual identities and sexual socialization. These are down to earth discussions that reveal much of what many suspect but never thought to seek out and put down on paper. His narratives are fascinating reading. The last part of the book covers AIDS and HIV Prevention. The narratives provided in this part typically contain "not only an account of the sexual encounter but also individuals' own analysis of the situations surrounding the encounter and the reasons behind the outcome in terms of safety, or lack of safety, against HIV transmission." There is a need for cultural change but that change is slow in coming, especially when sexuality is the overriding factor. Men, in particular, are afraid of change because it will limit their power over women. The road to sexual equality in Mexico still seems to be a long way off. The most outstanding aspect of this book is that it provides an opportunity to more openly discuss sexuality so that it is better understood, resulting in the opportunity to provide improved education on HIV. This is a recommended book for all academic libraries.

1169. New Horizons in Medical Anthropology: Essays in Honour of Charles Leslie, edited by Mark Nichter, Margaret Lock. 2002. Routledge, 29 West 35th St., New York, NY 1001. 312p., bibliog., index. (Theory and Practice in Medical Anthropology and International Health, v. 8). ISBN 0-415-27793-0, 0-415-27806-6pbk $23.95pbk.
(Descriptors: History; Indonesia Nepal)

This is a collection papers in honor of Charles Leslie who is a highly respected medical anthropologist and whose "ethics, theories and codes of practice provide an essential guide to all future medical anthropologists." A complete list of Charles Leslie's publications is included. The papers cover a wide range of topics from "Crossing culture in AIDS prevention in Nepal" to "A return to scientific racism in medical social sciences: the case of sexuality and the AIDS epidemic in Africa" to "Killing and healing revisited: on cultural difference, warfare, and sacrifice." The contributors are former students or colleagues, including Vincanne Adams, Gilles Bibeau, Steve Ferzacca, Patricia Jeffery, Roger Feffery, Margaret Lock, Mark Nichter, Duncan Pedersen, Stacy Leigh Pigg, Marina Roseman, Margaret Trawick, and Allan Young.

These are well-written and referenced papers that will be of interest to medical anthropologists throughout the world. The book "reflects recent research by medical anthropologists working in Asia who have been inspired by Charles Leslie's writing on such topics as medical pluralism and the early emergence of what has become a globalized biomedicine, the social relations of therapy management, and the relationship between the politics of the state and discourse about the health of populations, illness, and medicine." This is a recommended book for all academic and health science libraries to support scholarly research in medical anthropology.

1170. HIV Stories: The Archaeology of AIDS Writing in France, 1985-1988, by Jean-Pierre Boulé. 2002. Liverpool University Press/International Specialized Book Services, 5824 NE Hassalo St., Portland, OR 97213-3644. 184p., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-85323-568-6, 0-85323-578-3pbk. $52.95.
(Descriptors: Historical Aspects; Writing; France)

This book is a study of AIDS writing as opposed to a study of AIDS novels. Boulé is "aiming to write a history of the past by excavating meanings and practices around AIDS texts during the period in question, and by bringing to light what has been covered up, since almost no critical attention has been paid to the first writers in the AIDS field." One of the most significant facts about the early AIDS writing was that the story survives but the one who told it has died. Three books covered under fiction are The Ambiguity in Witnessing, by Hélène Laygues; Masculinist Desires and Sexualities, by Juliette; and Masculinty, Grief and Sexuality, by Mike Winer. The last three books that are covered are AIDS testimonials: The Forgotten Witness, by Michel Simonin; Overlooked Witness, by Jean-Paul Aron; and Metaphor/Phantasy and Mobilisation, by Alain Emmanuel Dreuilhe. This is an important work in documenting the history of AIDS. So much of what was written in the beginning was first ignored, then it was muffled, and finally it was heard, but usually not until the author had died. This is a recommended book for academic libraries.

1171. "You're the First One I've Told": New Faces of HIV in the South, by Kathryn Whetten-Goldstein, Trang Quyen Nguyen. 2002. Rutgers University Press, 100 Joyce Kilmer Ave., Piscataway, NJ 08854-8099. 289p., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-8135-3114-4, 0-8135-3115-2pbk. $60.00, $22.00pbk.
(Descriptors: Southern United States; Personal Recollections)

This book provides a basic foundation of the lives of HIV-infected persons who represent the new wave of the epidemic and whom we serve as current or future clinicians, practitioners, policymakers, and researchers. The first part of the book sets the stage with a discussion of HIV, the South and benefits. "In rural areas, the barriers to care are already great for all persons with chronic diseases. HIV carries with it the added stigma of a deadly disease transmitted through behaviors that are taboo for discussion." The next 3 parts cover Life before diagnosis; Life following the HIV diagnosis; and Trusting the system and HIV providers. The last part provides a theoretical framework and some policy recommendations. This is a monumental task to be able to overcome the taboos that are in rural areas where religious beliefs counter any educational efforts to the point that those who are infected are deathly afraid to let it be know that they are HIV positive. This stigma is a difficult one to combat but one that many are tackling in earnest. This is a revealing book. It is an excellent resource for those who are HIV positive and who want to learn more about the lives of others infected and affected by this virus. The case studies that are included are excellent ways of communication. "Life experiences teach us how to best survive and navigate systems." "We learn whether those in authority are there to assist us or to be avoided unless avoidance becomes impossible." This is a highly recommended book for public and academic libraries.

1172. Globalizing AIDS, by Cindy Patton. 2002. University of Minnesota Press, 111 Third Ave. South, Ste 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401-2520. 156p., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-8166-3279-0, 0-8166-3280-4pbk. $52.95, $18.95pbk.
(Descriptors: Social Aspects; Epidemiology; World Health; Politics)

"In the late 1960s, Canadian media theorist Marshall McLuhan popularized the phrase "global village," which captured the growing perception that for many people, mass media and transportation technologies had effectively reduced the size of the globe, irrevocably altering their sense of where they lived." Everything was becoming so intertwined that political boundaries were hard to define. Then the 1980s came and AIDS was on our doorstep. We tried to confine AIDS into political boundaries, even setting up roadblocks so that if you were HIV positive you could move freely throughout the world. All of that quickly changed, as the face of AIDS became a global concern. Patton has expounded on this global aspect by showing us that this new kind of disease was able to move about the world easily. "International scientific institutions and news organizations quickly constructed a place for AIDS in the global imaginary: from the heart of Africa and gay bathhouses in San Francisco to the back streets of Southeast Asia and poverty-stricken neighborhoods in the United States." AIDS helped to recycle racist ideas about Africans and Asians, increased homophobic ideas about gay sexuality, and intensified the search for a cure.

This book looks at all of these complex interactions among modern science, media coverage, and local activism during the first decade of the AIDS epidemic. This small book is a very interesting view of how AIDS has been globalized. It will provide you a different way of looking at AIDS and the realities of the disease. This is a recommended book for all academic libraries.

1173. Quantitative Evaluation of HIV Prevention Programs, edited by Edward H. Kaplan, Ron Brookmeyer. 2002. Yale University Press, PO Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520-9040. 335p., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-300-08751-9. $50.00.
(Descriptors: Prevention; Government Policy; Education)

The papers presented in this book are the result of the 14th Research Application Conferences (RACs) of the Societal Institute of the Mathematical Sciences (SIMS), held in July 1998 in Divonne-les-Bais, France. "The evaluation of HIV prevention programs presents many challenges. Also, though evaluations remain imperfect, strategic HIV prevention decisions will continue to be made." The papers presented at this conference discuss some of the evaluation procedures that have been tried in various parts of the world. In the first part-Evaluating HIV Prevention Programs: Context and Concepts-four papers give an overview of HIV prevention programs in developing countries, economic implications of a national HIV prevention policy, statistical issues surrounding HIV prevention, and epidemiological issues in evaluation of HIV prevention programs. The next part-Cost-Effectiveness and Resource Allocation-has three papers that touch on the cost of HIV prevention programs. Part three consists of three case studies: "Harm Reduction in Rome," "Evaluating Israel's Ethiopian Blood Ban," and Feeding Strategies for Children of HIV-Infected Mothers." The last part provides new methods for new problems, touching on clinical trials and vaccines.

These are well-written and documented papers that should be of great value to others doing research in this area. Evaluation of any program can be a tricky and sometimes risky process. There are a wealth of legal and ethical issues that have to be considered, especially when research has to be placed in high gear in order to stay ahead of this dreadful virus. This is a recommended book for all academic libraries.

1174. Coping with HIV/AIDS in Education: Case Studies of Kenya and Tanzania, by Magdallen N. Juma. 2001. Commonwealth Secretariat/Stylus Publishing, 22833 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012. 84p., illus., bibliog. ISBN 0-85092-667-X. $9.95.
(Descriptors: Kenya; Tanzania; Social Aspects; Education)

"The overall purpose of these case studies was to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on education in selected districts of Kenya and Tanzania, and to review the various mechanisms in place in the affected communities to address the impact and challenges in education." The two case studies look at the impact of HIV/AIDS on the countries, the national response to the virus, how the community has responded as well as the schools, rehabilitation, and the all-important pupils' attitudes towards HIV/AIDS victims. This is a very informative report that provides some insight of how HIV/AIDS is affecting individuals at all levels from school to home to work. A recommended book for all academic libraries.

1175. AIDS Education and Prevention: An Interdisciplinary Journal, volume 15, no. 1, February, 2003, supplement to volume 15, no. 1, 2003., edited by Francisco S. Sy. Guilford Publications, 72 Spring St., New York, NY 10012. ISSN 0899-9546. $225.00 institutions, $65.00 individuals.
(Descriptors: Education; Prevention)

This journal serves as a forum to the publication of original contributions that highlight existing and theoretical models of AIDS education and prevention, including their development, implementation, and evaluation.

This first issue of the 15th volume for 2003 contains seven articles: "Skills Training versus Health Education to Prevent STDs/HIV in Heterosexual Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial Utilizing Biological Outcomes," "Effectiveness of a Risk Reduction Intervention Among African American Women Who Use Crack Cocaine," "Evaluation of the Psamao 'Roulez Protégé' Mass Media Campaign in Burkina Faso," "Interventions to Reduce HIV/AIDS Stigma: What Have we Learned?," "Reasons for HIV Disclosure or Nondisclosure to Casual Sexual Partners," "Depression and HIV Risk Behavior among Seattle-Area Injection Drug Users and Young Men Who have Sex with Men," and "Responses of Male Inmates to Primary Partner Requests for Condom Use: Effects of Message Content and Domestic Violence History."

The supplement issue-HIV Prevention for Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) and Men of Color who Have Sex with Men and Women (MSM/W)-contains 11 papers: "HIV and AIDS Among Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men and Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men and Women: An Epidemiological Profile," "HIV Risk and Prevention Among Asian/Pacific Islander Men Who Have Sex with Men: Listen to Our Stories," "A Model for Understanding Sexual Health Among Asian American/Pacific Islander Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in the United States," "The Effect of Partner Characteristics on HIV Infection Among African American Men Who Have Sex with Men in the Young Men's Survey, Los Angeles, 1999-2000," "Age and Race Mixing Patterns of Sexual Partnerships Among Asian Men Who Have Sex with Men: Implications for HIV Transmission and Prevention," "Psychosocial Predictors of Risky Sexual Behaviors in African American Men: Implications for Prevention," "Risk Among Young Gay and Bisexual men Living with HIV," "Latinos' Community Involvement in HIV/AIDS: Organizational and Individual Perspectives on Volunteering," "Repeat HIV Testing Among Hispanic Men Who Have Sex with Men-A Sign of Risk, Prevention, or Reassurance," "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance Among Incarcerated Men Who Have Sex with Men-An Opportunity for HIV Prevention," and "Adapting an Evidence-Based Intervention: Tales of the Hustler Project."

1176. Johns Hopkins Hospital 2002 Guide to Medical Care of Patients with HIV Infection, 10th edition by John G. Bartlett. 2001. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106. 275p., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-7817-3427-4.
(Descriptors: Drug Therapy; Epidemiology; Prevention; Drugs; Complications)

The purpose of this annual publication "is to provide guidelines for the care of patients with HIV infection." These recommendations reflect the policies of the AIDS Care Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Since there are constantly new treatments and care strategies it is necessary to have this publication issued on an annual basis. For the latest information visit the website: http://www.hopkins-aids.edu . The ten chapters cover HIV serology, epidemiology, classification and natural history, patient evaluation, prevention, antiretroviral therapy, antiretroviral agents, management of complications, drugs used for HIV-infected patients, and major complications of HIV infection. This is a must book for all HIV clinics, libraries of general medicine physicians, and health science libraries.

[ AIDS BOOK REVIEW JOURNAL | UIC University Library ]

Last updated 04/16/2003
URL:http://www.uic.edu/depts/lib/aidsbkrv/