Baseline Report 2008
Aim: A baseline assessment was commissioned to explore the degree to which HIV-related issues impact on the target audience.
Key thematic areas that were evaluated:
HIV infection continues to spread in South Africa because of a range of social, economic, biological and psychological reasons. Young people are particularly vulnerable, with the HIV infection rate amongst young women of specific concern. The prevalence and incidence rates of HIV infection of the greater Durban, East London and Cape Town are of particular concern as access to health care is often poor while factors associated with increased HIV transmission are common.
Key Methodology:
Initial research centred on the epidemiology, behavioural and social aspects, geographical location and economic environment of the three regions in which we operate. A questionnaire was created to explore existing knowledge among the target audience of the issues identified in the preliminary research. Focus group questions were designed to examine attitudes towards HIV and AIDS.
Participants in the questionnaire and focus group were recruited by first approaching schools for agreement to participate, and then requesting individual permission of the learners’ parents. The organisation planned to workshop approximately 1530-2550 learners in 2008; over the course of April to May the research reached 11 focus groups of 8 to 12 learners and a total of 569 learners through the questionnaire (37.2-22.3 percent of the overall number). Of the latter number, 523 were Grade 8 learners from across the country and 46 were Grade 11 learners from KwaZulu-Natal.
Key Results:
Approximately half the learners in the sample were from KwaZulu-Natal, which reflected in the division of home languages spoken. Though most participants in Grade 8 were aged between 12 to 14 years of age, more than a third was 15 or older. The oldest learner in the Grade 11 class was born in 1985.
Only 19.5 percent of the Grade 8 learners in the sample recorded both mother and father as primary caregivers, with most participants reporting only mother. About 14.1 percent of the sample disclosed missing school due to lack of food.
60.6 percent of the sample knows someone who is living with HIV, has died of AIDS and/or is taking antiretroviral medication. Most learners (over 80 percent of that 60.6 per cent) know someone who died of AIDS. A higher percentage of learners personally aware of HIV and AIDS than amongst the overall sample reported missing school because of a lack of food.
Only 40 percent of the sample regarded HIV and AIDS as a community concern, and this was more likely amongst girls than boys. The gendered differences in perception increased significantly among those who personally knew someone with HIV and AIDS as opposed to learners who did not.
When asked who had talked about HIV, most participants remembered hearing about HIV from a parent, with only a third recording ‘teacher’ and another third reporting a doctor, nurse or counsellor. 16.1 percent of boys in the sample said no one had ever talked about HIV and AIDS.
Only nine participants out of the entire 523 Grade 8 learners in the sample could identify the four body fluids capable of transmitting HIV infection. Two thirds believed condoms do prevent HIV infection, and a third believed that having one sexual partner will also protect against HIV infection.
Nearly half the respondents from KwaZulu-Natal said they would not eat a meal with someone known as infected with HIV. Overall, HIV-related stigma levels were high across the country, regardless of whether or not the learner knew someone affected by HIV and AIDS.
A third of participants in the greater East London area were unsure that an HIV test result would remain confidential.
The majority of learners completed the sex-related questions section of the questionnaire, with 15.1 percent of respondents disclosing sexual activity. Only half of those who disclosed sexual activity recorded ever using a condom and many were not aware they could get condoms from stores as well as clinics. Many had only had sex with one partner. Around a fifth of all learners in the sample recorded two or more STI symptoms.
Reported alcohol and drug use were highest in the greater Cape Town region, with East London learners least likely of the three areas to try either substance.
Key recommendations:
The report makes four recommendations for further organisational work:
- Information on HIV infection levels in the local community should be incorporated at the start of every workshop series;
- The organisation should explicitly seek to address HIV-related stigma by addressing its causes amongst learners;
- Cross-generational sex should be explained in the context of school-based relationships and non-school relationships;
- The biological mechanics of HIV transmission should be explained in a manner that allows learners to simply assess the potential risk of HIV transmission in any given situation; and
- The process of HIV testing should be clearly explained to all participants, with stress laid on the rights and responsibilities of both those tested and those testing.
For a full report click here.