Case Study: Zapotec Woman with HIV in Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

Sofia is a 35-year-old, married Zapotec Indian woman living in a remote small mountainous village, approximately 8 hours away from the capital city of Oaxaca in Mexico. Sofia lives with her 43-year-old husband, Jose, and four children, ages 5, 6, 10, and 12. She had two other children who died prior to their first birthday. She finished the third grade but is unable to read very well in Zapoteca or in Spanish and has minimum writing skills. Unable to find employment at home, Jose worked as a farm laborer in the United States for the past 4.5 years to support his family. Separated from his family for a long time, Jose dealt with his loneliness by socializing at the local bar near his work where other Mexicans congregated. He often engaged in casual sexual relations with some of the prostitutes who frequented this bar. Five months ago Jose returned home and Sofia became pregnant again. After visiting the local health department clinic, Sofia became aware that she was not only pregnant but also HIV positive. Before her diagnosis, Sofia and her husband did not know much about HIV and how a person can contract the disease. (Note: the name and location of this woman and her family are fictitious.)