Gender Dimensions, Food Security, and HIV and AIDS in Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs) Camps in Uganda: Implications for HIV-Responsive Policy and Programming

Abstract

This study set out to investigate in specific terms how gender relations influence the interaction between food insecurity and HIV/AIDS in two armed conflict-affected districts, Gulu, in northern Uganda and Katakwi. The study largely embraced qualitative and ethnographic approaches of investigation supplemented by quantitative approaches. An exploratory and descriptive study design largely applying an ethnographic approach was employed. This facilitated the research team to gain a clear understanding of the local meanings and contextual issues that influence interactions between gender, food insecurity, and risky sexual behavior in situations of internal displacement. Quantitative variables were also generated from the ethnographic phase of the study. The ethnographic phase helped to clarify the key variables and indicators, such as the extent of food insecurity, risky sexual behavior, perceived and actual risk to HIV infection, that were followed up and measured using quantitative research instruments. Since the whole philosophy underlying this research is to improve policy and programming, the approach employed was a collaborative one that involved deliberate consultation with relevant government departments as well as local and international agencies involved in activities related to food security and HIV/AIDS in internally displaced peoples (IDPs) camps.