Challenges and Obstacles in Early HIV and AIDS Education in South Africa, 1989-1994

Authors

  • Louis Grundlingh

Keywords:

AIDS, behaviour, conceptualisation, context, education, government, HIV, knowledge, messages, methods, NGO, obstacles, problems, programmes, Boodskappe, gedrag, kennis, konseptualisering, konteks, metodes, opvoeding, probleme, regering, VIGS

Abstract

English

Very little research has been done on HIV and AIDS education in the 1980s. AIDS cases rapidly increased from less than 1 per cent in 1990 to almost 8 per cent in 1994. Both the government and non-governmental organisations started to launch HIV and AIDS education campaigns and programmes. Whilst the levels of awareness might have been relatively high, the same cannot be said for the knowledge levels. There were numerous impediments with the educational efforts. These ranged from a restrictive conservative morality, and a strictly bio-medical interpretation of the disease, to the racial context of South Africa. A variety of methods were used to convey the HIV and AIDS message. Considering the levels of illiteracy in the country, educationists made use of visual aids and dramatic performances to convey the message. Prejudice, as well as inadequate financial and human resources, impeded the educational drive. By 1994 knowledge levels rose, but no major inroads were made in the ultimate goal of behaviour change.

 

 

 

Afrikaans

Uitdagings en struikelblokke in vroeë HIV- en VIGS-opvoeding in Suid-Afrika, 1989-1994 AIDS

Baie min is gedoen ten opsigte van HIV- en VIGS-opvoeding in die 1980’s. VIGSgevalle het vinnig toegeneem van minder as 1 persent in 1990 tot amper 8 persent in 1994. Beide die regering en nie-regeringsorganisasies het veral in hierdie tyd HIV- en VIGS-opvoedingsveldtogte en -programme begin loods. Die vlak van bewussyn mag relatief hoog gewees het, maar dieselfde kan nie van kennisvlakke gesê word nie. Daar was heelwat beperkinge wat die opvoedingspogings in die wiele gery het. Dit het gewissel van ʼn baie beperkende konserwatiewe moraliteit en ʼn streng biomediese interpretasie van die siekte, tot die rasse-konteks van Suid-Afrika. Verskeie metodes is aangewend om die HIV- en VIGS-boodskap oor te dra. Opvoedkundiges het die vlak van ongeletterdheid in ag geneem en daarom het hulle van visuele middele en toneelspel gebruik gemaak om die boodskap oor te dra. Vooroordele en ontoereikende finansiële en menslike hulpbronne het baie beperkend op die opvoedkundige pogings ingewerk. Teen 1994 het kennisvlakke wel toegeneem, maar geen noemenswaardige vordering is gemaak met die uiteindelike doel om gedrag te verander nie.

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Published

2021-06-14

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Challenges and Obstacles in Early HIV and AIDS Education in South Africa, 1989-1994. (2021). Historia, 54(1). https://upjournals.up.ac.za/index.php/historia/article/view/1082