Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of PhD (Community Psychology), Faculty of Arts, University of Zululand, 2008. / HIV and AIDS present a catastrophic public health threat that is reaching crisis proportions among adolescents and young adults. There is a need to educate pre adolescent female learners before they reach puberty, as females are especially at risk of contracting HIV because of the interplay of biological, economic and cultural factors. This study explored the nature and extent of the pre-adolescent female learner's knowledge, attitudes and skills regarding HIV and AIDS. An experimental research design, namely, a no-treatment group design with pre test and posttest was applied. An HIV and AIDS prevention intervention programme was designed and implemented. The objectives were to help learners acquire knowledge, attitudes and skills to make informed decisions and practice health promoting behaviours. Life skills, sex and sexuality education and HIV and AIDS as a gendered epidemic were addressed. The science and art of health education was used to frame the intervention and ensured that the learner not only received the correct message but also incorporated it into her repertoire of behaviour. The findings of the study highlighted five critical areas that were vital within an HIV and AIDS education intervention. Firstly, pre adolescent female learners were very interested in sex and sexuality and information on physiological changes during puberty must be disseminated. The issue of morality was attached to sex and sexuality and this reinforced the biopsychosocial and cultural factors that came into play. The importance of peer education was emphasised, as parents were reticent to address these issues. It was found that basic information on all dimensions of HIV and AIDS education was still a powerful tool. It was vital to incorporate more than the ABC messages and look at the social constructs of health promotion and focus on critical thinking and an education for liberation. A manual with a set of guidelines was formulated and presented to educators for use with preadolescent female learners. This would help reduce the casualties of HIV and AIDS, as early intervention would protect a vulnerable group in society.

This quantitative, explorative and descriptive survey attempted to determine factors that influence the adolescent pregnancy rate in the Greater Giyani Municipality. Data were gathered from adolescent girls attending four selected high schools. Non-probability convenient sample of 147 respondents was used with 100% return rate. Data was collected using a questionnaire which had a reliability of 0.65. Data were analysed using the SAS/Basic computer program, version 9.2. Findings indicated that 56.34% of respondents reported key psychosocial variables such as peer pressure and 58.90% of them changed values as contributory to high pregnancy rates. .Health services were reported as not freely available and relationships with nurses significantly cited as poor by 72.41% respondents with regard to maintenance of confidentiality. Recommendations were made to improve school health services, reproductive education and future research / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

This quantitative, explorative and descriptive survey attempted to determine factors that influence the adolescent pregnancy rate in the Greater Giyani Municipality. Data were gathered from adolescent girls attending four selected high schools. Non-probability convenient sample of 147 respondents was used with 100% return rate. Data was collected using a questionnaire which had a reliability of 0.65. Data were analysed using the SAS/Basic computer program, version 9.2. Findings indicated that 56.34% of respondents reported key psychosocial variables such as peer pressure and 58.90% of them changed values as contributory to high pregnancy rates. .Health services were reported as not freely available and relationships with nurses significantly cited as poor by 72.41% respondents with regard to maintenance of confidentiality. Recommendations were made to improve school health services, reproductive education and future research / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)