Knowledge of aids in Southern Africa, with special emphasis on South Africa : a critical review

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:AIDS is a killer disease which is spreading like wildfire in all sectors of thepopulation of Southern Africa, in spite of AIDS prevention programmes thatare implemented in these communities. Why does this state of affairs exist?Conflicting views exist about the origin of AIDS and about the knowledge ofdifferent racial groups with regard to the disease. A number of researchershave argued that knowledge or information dissemination is not a necessarycondition for behavioural change, as is evident from historical efforts tocombat sexually transmitted disease. However, this thesis shows thatknowledge is a variable or component that has frequently been used in almostall studies done on AIDS in Southern Africa. The present author thussearches for the rationale for the phenomenon that knowledge of AIDS doesnot necessarily result in preventative behavioural change. In this regard theimportance of effective communication strategies and cognisance of thenature of target groups are highlighted, because negligence regarding thesefactors can serve as an impediment to behavioural change. The whole socialfabric of the target community and basic individual needs are importantelements that should also be major considerations before preventativeprogrammes are implemented.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University