Women's narratives of living in polygamous marriages: Rural Malawian experience distilled and preserved in poetic constructions. Health Care Women Int 2017 Aug;38(8):873-891
Date
05/10/2017Pubmed ID
28481143DOI
10.1080/07399332.2017.1326494Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85020161125 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 5 CitationsAbstract
Polygamy in sub-Saharan Africa has been linked to poverty, infant mortality, and HIV; however, it is unknown how interpersonal dynamics within polygamous households may influence population health outcomes. Findings from this postcolonial feminist study derive from interview data in a larger mixed-methods study in rural Malawi. We used thematic narrative analysis to probe 25 women's stories and applied an arts-based research technique, poetic construction, to present the results. Participants' evocative expressions, distilled and preserved in poetic form, illustrate themes of perseverance, grief, agency, and reflection. We discuss how gender relations, childrearing, tradition, economics, and health intersect in polygamous households.
Author List
Yerges AL, Stevens PE, Mkandawire-Valhmu L, Bauer W, Ng'ombe Mwenyekonde T, Weinhardt LS, Galvao LWAuthor
Lance S. Weinhardt MS,PhD Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Community and Behavioral Health Promotion in the Joseph. J. Zilber School of Public Health department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultFamily Characteristics
Female
Health Status
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Malawi
Marriage
Narration
Rural Population
Socioeconomic Factors
