LAP Lambert Academic Publishing Religious Health Assets, Health Outcomes and HIV/AIDS: Using the faith community as a health asset, the case of HIV in South Africa

Health, especially HIV/AIDS, presents great challenges for disadvantaged communities in Africa. An ‘asset-based’ focus demonstrates how tangible and intangible assets can create greater value. It emphasises strengths and capabilities, rather than lack and need. This book identifies the ‘assets’ that communities have in their struggle for health. It suggests a strategy to bring together the assets of Africa, the interests of the global faith community, and the evidence base of ‘what works’ when religious people, communities, and institutions address the struggle for sustainable health on that continent with pragmatism and hope. What often makes religious health assets different form other structures lies in what is not visible – the motivational and mobilizing capacities that are rooted in affective and symbolic dimensions of religious faith, belief and behaviour. Intangible assets play a very real role in fostering the health of communities. This book encourages health practitioners and public policy makers to measure the effectiveness of local religious health assets in improving health prospects of those most in need.