Recent ethnographic data from sub-Saharan Africa have begun to document young women actively using their sexuality toward the consumption of modern material items, conflicting with more conventional depictions of women as passive victims of gendered power dynamics. Liberalized economies shrink the formal sector, generate economic instability, increase inequality, and simultaneously flood markets with consumer goods and foreign media showcasing Western youth culture. We suggest that urban youth have come to herald “resourcefulness” as a means by which to achieve the pervasive depiction of “modern youth” within the context of economic instability. In this IDRC funded study, we examine the hypothesis that interests in consumption are influencing changes in the sexual behaviour of youth in urban Madagascar (the case) thereby increasing their vulnerability to HIV. Our examination includes both quantitative and qualitative primary data collection and secondary data analysis. In examining the association between consumption and sexual behaviour, we document the magnitude of this association and how it compares to more established associations with sexual behaviour (such as education, poverty, migration, religion).
Who are we?
Ronald Labonté, globalization and health/governance Canada Research Chair in Globalization and Health Equity School of Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Medicine University of Ottawa
Corinne Packer, AMR Network Co-ordinator and Assistant Director of Globalization and Health Equity, School of Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Medicine University of Ottawa
Suzanne Hindmarch, public health/political sciences Assistant Professor/Director of Graduate Studies Political Science Department, Faculty of Arts University of New Brunswick Fredericton Campus
Kelley Lee, health governance Canada Research Chair Faculty of Health Sciences Simon Fraser University
Stephen McBride, public policy/political sciences Canada Research Chair in Public Policy and Globalization Department of Political Science McMaster University
Andrew Morris, MD, AMR epidemiology Medical Director, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program Sinai Health System/University Health Network Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
David Patrick, MD, AMR epidemiology Professor School of Population and Public Health University of British Columbia
Arne Ruckert, global governance and health Senior Research Associate School of Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Medicine University of Ottawa
Scott Weese, AMR pathobiology Professor, pathobiology Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph
Kumanan Wilson, MD, public health Professor of Medicine and Senior Scientist Ottawa Hospital Research Institute University of Ottawa
Alex Wong, AMR/biological sciences Associate Professor Department of Biology Carleton University
Patrick Fafard, health governance/health policy Professor Faculty of Social Sciences Associate Director, Global Strategy Lab University of Ottawa
Rianne Mahon, social policy/governance/gender CIGI Chair in Comparative Social Policy and Global Governance Balsillie School of International Affairs and Wilfrid Laurier University
Tracey O’Sullivan, public health Professor Faculty of Health Sciences University of Ottawa Knowledge Users
Lindsay Noad (Principal Knowledge User) Director, Antimicrobial Resistance Assistant Deputy Minister’s Office Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch Public Health Agency of Canada
Gary E. Garber, MD Chief, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Dept. Public Health Ontario Sam Mohajer Antimicrobial Resistance Science Leader Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Publications and Presentations
Stoebenau et al., Consuming sex: the association between modern goods, lifestyles and sexual behavior among youth in Madagascar.
Garrett W. Brown, Ronald Labonte, Globalization and its methodological discontents: Contextualizing globalization through the study of HIV/AIDS,