Sociocultural Infrastructure: Communicating Identity and Health in Africa

Although infrastructure typically refers to physical characteristics, in this article it refers to social-cultural properties within which health decisions and communication may occur. An understanding of agency and identities is incomplete without situating them in social-cultural networks of relationships that give meaning to health behaviors and sociocultural practices. Airhihenbuwa (2007) describes social-cultural infrastructure as systems and mechanisms of culture that nurture social strengths by rendering them assets in containing epidemics. The focus on physical infrastructure in addressing the development levels offers a useful perspective on the nature and relationship people have with themselves, their people, and their environment (Beune, Haafkens, Schuster, & Bindels, 2006), but does not adequately explain how choices are made and have social impact. Understanding how choices are made offers insight into how individuals are able to maintain optimum health and function in spite of limitations on their social and cognitive capabilities. In this commentary, we offer a perspective on the continually changing and conflicting global agenda to reduce the disease burden by improving health and