An investigation into the level of HIV and AIDS awareness among learners in the rural schools of Makhuduthamaga Municipality in Limpopo

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this research was –to investigate whether HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns have brought any change to the behaviour of learners in the rural schools of Makhuduthamaga Municipality in Limpopo, who could become a health risk to the prevalence thereof, and make them aware of the implications of the epidemic;to establish how far these schools have implemented lifeskills education and HIV/AIDS programmes to learners; andto investigate whether or not the programme has achieved any sustained behavioural change among learners, and increased their level of awareness of HIV/AIDS to tackle barriers to healthier behaviour.This study comprises a literature study on HIV/AIDS regarding the definition of terms, what AIDS and HIV are, the origin and manner of transmission of the virus, education programmes on HIV/AIDS, and the challenges facing the implementation of HIV/AIDS education programmes. The main data was collected through the distribution of questionnaires to Grade 12 learners of schools from the Nebo circuit in the southern region of Limpopo; and also from officials in the field. The results of the study indicate that most learners are aware of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Their knowledge, one the whole, with regard to condom use, prevention, the manner of infection, discrimination, and their rights to education was outstanding. Nevertheless there were a few learners who performed unsatisfactorily to some of the questions, namely the question on infection through breastfeeding, the spread of the virus through sneezing and coughing, the cure of the virus by traditional healers and the importance of counselling and testing. Significantly, the study findings indicate that the majority of learners have knowledge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, therefore the initial hypothesis that the level of knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS among learners in the rural schools of the Makhuduthamaga Municipality in Limpopo was not supported.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University