My research aims to assess how culture, defined here as a set of behaviours and beliefs, as well as language, religion, law and morality systems that are passed down from generation to generation, impact Angolan women’s ability to adopt safer sexual behaviours, including behaviours that might prevent them from contracting the HIV virus. More specifically, my research will attempt to answer the question: What are the collective cultural resources that can be adopted by women for safer sexual practices in the face of HIV/AIDS? So far most studies on HIV point to culture as one of the causes for the high rate of HIV infection in Africa. During all my years of experience working in public health, including in Africa, all disease prevention programs focused on “behaviour change” or “behaviour modification.” Cultural habits are generally seen as the problem. A great deal of effort is placed in changing them. In this study I will attempt to identify through grounded theory methodology and a social constructionist epistemological approach other aspects of culture and the potential to use them as a resource for women to fight the spread of HIV.