Are peer educators less inclined to engage in unsafe sex and in contracting HIV/AIDS?

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research focuses on how peer educators and ex-peer educators are influenced by the peer education and if they have practised what they teach their peers. I focused on the impact of peer education on peer educators and to see if peer educators engaged in unprotected sex just like any ordinary youth who has not been exposed to HIV/AIDS education at school. Do youth at the schools see peer educators as role models? Is the HIV/AIDS intervention empowering the peer educators from getting HIV/AIDS infection? Does the intervention of HIV/AIDS peer education prevent the peer educators from practising unprotected sex? Are peer educators less inclined to engage in unsafe sex and in contracting HIV/AIDS than ordinary students? I sought answers to these questions.This research was done in two selected schools in the Western Cape. The first school, Kaya Mandi High school‟s ex-peer educators were a product of an NGO a initiative of Christo Greyling called 'I Have Hope sponsored by Old Mutual and Love life. The second school, Fezeka High had peer educators who were products of Gold peer education a venture between the Department of Education and the Department of Health.Data gathering was done through qualitative research by having focus groups from each school. The interview schedule used to collect data from the students and teachers of the designated schools. Data collected from the Department of Education as well as the Department of Health to show how peer education is implemented in the province.The data analysis has shown that although peer education is effective, peer educators do engage in unprotected sex and others do fall pregnant or impregnate fellow students.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University