Social capital and HIV Competent Communities: The role of community groups in managing HIV/AIDS in rural Zimbabwe

Figures & data

Table 1. Community groups in Manicaland, eastern Zimbabwe.

Group	Description
Church group	Members from the same congregation meet outside of regular church worship times. Engage in Bible study, discussing marital issues, and community outreach, particularly helping families in need (such as those with sick members or orphans)
HIV/AIDS group	Loose term to apply to variety of groups including post-HIV-test clubs (mostly PLWHA), HIV/ART support groups often organised by clinics, youth groups, peer education groups, home-based care groups (members go house to house to help families with sick relatives – doing chores, bathing the sick, sometimes collecting pills from clinic, etc.)
Burial society	Members contribute small sums of money to central fund to cover basic funeral expenses for themselves and other members. Members commit to organising proper burials for one another and often sing at funerals. Generally meet monthly
Rotating credit society	Members contribute to central fund and when they reach a certain amount the money is shared for income-generating projects such as buying seeds. Members borrow at same interest rate, and loans can be made to non-members at a higher rate.
Women's group	Generally linked to government women's empowerment initiatives. Supported by government income-generating grants
Sports club	Generally all-male. Organise tournaments against other regions. Primarily soccer
Youth group	Often organised by political parties or teachers, these seek to develop leadership skills and provide recreation for youth (often into 20s – “end of youth” often determined by marriage)
Co-operative	Becoming less common in the region. Generally linked to income generation
Farmer's group	Farmers, both male and female, meet monthly to plan crops, discuss weather patterns and new technologies, share labour and access NGO assistance (e.g., a bee-keeping group)