M.Ed. (Psychology of Education) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.A. / The purpose of this study was to determine if the PPASA Lifeskills HIV/AIDS programme is an effective sexuality programme for adolescents. The ANOVA was used to measure the effectiveness of the programme. The PPASA Lifeskill HIV/AIDS manual was used to present acceptable sexual knowledge, sexual behaviour and sexual values as well as attitudes. Some of the sources that were reviewed with regard to those variables are Greathead et al., Madima C., Taitz L., Kaplan P., Louw D. and Olivier M. The field experiment before and after control group (pretest-postest) design was used for the research. The Mathtech sexuality questionnaire is the instrument that was employed to measure the effectiveness of the PPASA Lifeskills HIV/AIDS programme with regard to sexual behaviour, knowledge, attitudes and values. The Anova was then used to compare means between different groups and to determine if the scores are statistically significant. Unanticipated results were produced, the experimental groups sexual behaviour got worse instead of improving. The experiential group’s data indicated that the group was not significantly better off on their sexual knowledge, behaviour and attitudes. The results do not necessarily mean that the PPASA Lifeskills HIV/AIDS programme is useless, the programme can be used effectively as long as issues like language of instruction, time frame for the presentation of the programme, information grading and the role of parents with regard to the sexuality of their children can be resolved. Future research should try to work on some of the above mentioned obstacles. Research should be well resourced, both in regard to time as well as the material. It is also important to look into that which makes sexuality education programmes fail and succeed. The school should be the main agent of presenting sexuality education. It should work towards breaking the African culture of regarding sexuality topics as taboo. Parents should also be encouraged to take part in educating their children and being there for their children all the time.

Magister Artium (Human Ecology) - MA(HE) / A study investigating the contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices of coloured unmarried pregnant teenagers. / South Africa

M.A. / Today's adolescents are more sexurally active than those of previous generations, hence the high incident of early childbearing in most societies worldwide. In South Africa the problem seems to be widespread as it occurs among all cultural and ethnic groups, in rural, as well as in the urban arears, with teenage births constituiting 12% of the country's births. Among lower socio-economic groups, teenage childbearing in South Africa has been precipitated by years of disrupted schooling which has not only affected education, but sexual behaviour as well. In rural Venda, adolescent childbearing could be symtomatic of a breakdown of social order. Sex education has always been of pivotal concern in the development of a Muvenda girl. Upon reaching menarche, the girls would undergo the compulsory pubescence ritual. vhusha. Vhusha does not seem to be surviving the influence of modernization. This is evident from the poor attendance of this ritual, which is being abandoned without being replaced. There is therefore a need to develop a modern culture-friendly psychoeducationa prom-amme for the prevention of teenage pregnancy in rural Venda. This study is aimed at developing such a programme, and furthermore evaluate its effectiveness. The field experiment Before and After control (Pretest-Posttest) design has been used. The experimental intervention (a programme titled: VHUSHA), comprised sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes and career guidance. A questionnaire was used as a measuring instrument for the variables: sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes and future career goals awareness. At posttest, the experimental group showed a significant improvement with regard to sexual attitudes and future career goals awareness in comparison to the control group. VHUSHA has therefore been effective in this regard. Findings of this study showed no significant difference between the two groups with regard to sexual knowledge. This minimal improvement was primarily attributed to the researcher's being part of a culture that lacks openness in communicating sexual knowledge.

This descriptive study was conducted to identify barriers encountered by school systems, health departments, and other health care agencies while implementing pregnancy prevention projects in public school settings. The following questions were addressed in this study: 1. Do identifiable barriers exist that prevent the implementation of programs to serve adolescent parents in public schools? 2. Do common characteristics exist among school systems and health care agencies which implement pregnancy prevention projects? 3. Do school systems, community health care agencies, and health departments experience similar barriers during the implementation of pregnancy prevention programs? Eight sites were selected, four each from the categories of Delayed Implemented and Promptly Implemented Sites. Key persons involved with the initial project implementation were interviewed using a semistructured interview guide. Tape transcriptions and field notes from the interviews provided data for subsequent coding and classification around major themes. Three barriers were identified that were common to all Sites: access to contraceptives; access to abortions; and religious opposition to the project, or a specific project activity. Much of the religious opposition involved issues related to dispensing contraceptives, abortions, and the secular nature of the projects. An overwhelming majority of persons interviewed felt that pregnancy prevention and service delivery to adolescent parents were important issues for the school systems. A past working relationship appeared to be common to joint operated projects. An unstable funding cycle, staff recruitment, and staff retention were common barriers to project operators. Staff recruitment and staff retention were also impacted by the year-to-year funding cycle. There is also some indication that school system operated projects experienced fewer problems during implementation and enjoyed considerable support among the school staff and the community. / Ed. D.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Technology: Education, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / In this study I demonstrate the extent to which I have achieved my original goals to ‘break the silence, address confusion and challenge denial around HIV and AIDS’. As the study progressed I could not ignore the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS infection, and the impact of poverty and (mis)education in the time of HIV and AIDS. I also found myself confronted with the use of the traditional mnemonic oral-style of performance in the form of ‘new wine in old bottles’ where the learners at Mthusi High School used the ‘old bottles’ of gospel songs, isicathamiya and izibongo to compose and relay the ‘new wine’ of their experience and understandings around HIV and AIDS. I could see that the use of the mnemonic oral-style was a natural and powerful way for the learners’ understandings of HIV and AIDS to be shared amongst themselves, within the community, and with a larger public so breaking the silence around HIV and AIDS, and so addressing the confusion, challenging denial, stigma and discrimination around HIV and AIDS. The use of the mnemonic oral style in this way suggested to me that it could also be used effectively in education, and led to my suggesting the use of the traditional mnemonic oral-style relating to HIV and AIDS education in the Grades 10-12 Life Orientation Curriculum. / National Research Foundation

Thesis (MCur (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Nursing Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Reproductive health is the right of every person. The new Children’s Act (Act 38 of 2005) gives to children 12 years and older rights to reproductive health, which includes contraceptive access as well as information on sexuality and reproduction. They have the right to HIV/AIDS testing and treatment with only their own consent. The aim of the study was to investigate the personal and contextual factors which influence the accessibility and uptake of reproductive health education during early youth (13 to 18 years). The study also aimed to identify contextually appropriate recommendations toward improved reproductive health provision for these youths. A descriptive, non-experimental, research design was employed with a primarily quantitative approach. A sample of 270 participants, constituting 20% of the study population (N=1373) was randomly selected from Northlink FET Colleges, Cape Town. A self-completion structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University. Permission to conduct the research was obtained from the management of Northlink FET College. A group of 30 participants, who met the inclusion criteria, constituting 11% of the sample, participated in a pilot study. Reliability and validity were assured by means of a pilot study and the use of experts in the field, nursing research and statistics. Data was collected personally by the Principal Investigator. The data analysis was primarily descriptive in nature and presented in frequency tables, proportions and measures of relationships, using where indicated Chi-square (x2) and Mann-Whitney U tests. A thematic approach was used to analyze the qualitative data yielded from the open-ended question. Subsequently, in order to strengthen the investigation, the qualitative data, within the identified themes, was quantified based on a validated analytical approach. The results show that 74.1% (n=195) of participants were sexually experienced by the time of the study. Of the participants who reported having already had sexual intercourse, 60.5% (n=115) indicated having made their sexual début by the age of 16. A third of participants (33.2%,n=77) received their first reproductive health education by age 13. Only half of the participants (50.4%,n=116) indicated that the reproductive health education they received always influenced them to make safer sex choices. Of the participants, 21.9% (n=59) stated that they felt that they were in some way hindered in accessing contraceptives during age 13 to 18 years. The vast majority of the participants (94.4%, n=255) indicated that they would prefer reproductive health education to be provided by a professional healthcare provider at a clinic (61.5%, n=166) or by a nurse at school (33%; n=89). Increased reproductive health education within the schooling systems was requested by 52 (19.3%) participants, with more than 30% (n=84) indicating their home as the preferred source of such education. Several recommendations, grounded in the study findings, were identified, including the provision of reproductive health care and accessibility to contraceptives for youths as young as 12 years within a school setting. This care should be provided by healthcare professionals, such as nurses, on a similar operating basis as that which is provided in primary health clinics. The findings reveal to the pressing need for the development, implementation and evaluation of an alternative model for reproductive health care provision in order to assure the complete deliverance of the rights and care to youths as stipulated in the new Child Act (Act 38 of 2005). / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voortplantings gesondheid is die reg van elke persoon. Die nuwe Kinderwet (Wet 38 van 2005) gee aan elke kind 12 jaar en ouer die reg tot voortplantings gesondheid, wat insluit toegang tot swangerskap voorbehoeding en informasie aangaande seksualiteit en voortplanting. Die jeug het ook die reg tot HIV/AIDS toetsing en behandeling met net hulle eie toestemming. Die doelwitte daargestel is om te bepaal watter persoonlike en kontekstuele faktore die toegang en gebruik van voortplantings gesondheidsonderrig bevorder en/of benadeel by jonger tieners (13 tot 18 jaar). Die studie sou ook vasstel wat die voorwaardes is vir n toeganklike voortplantings gesondheidsorg diens vir hierdie tieners. !n Beskrywende, nie-eksperimentele navorsingsontwerp was gebruik met n primer kwantitatiewe benadering. !n Steekproef van 270 deelnemers, insluitende 20% van die studie populasie (N=1373) was vanuit die Northlink Verdere Onderrig en Opleidings Kolleges (Kaapstad) by die studie betrek. Die vraelys gebruik was gestruktueerd en is self deur deelnemers voltooi. Etiese Komitee van die Mediese Fakulteit te Universiteit Stellenbosch verkry asook die Bestuur van Northlink Kollege. ’n Loodstudie was gebruik, waarby 30 deelnemers wat inpas by die insluitings kriteria (11% van die studie populasie) betrek is. Die betroubaarheid en geldigheid van die studie is deur die loodstudie, die gebruik van ‘n statistikus, verpleegdeskundiges en die navorser-metodoloog versterk. Die finale data is persoonlik deur die navorser ingevorder. Data was geannaliseer met die bystand van ’n statistikus en is as frekwensie tabelle uitgebeeld met die gebruik van Chi-hoek (x2) en Mann-Whitney U toetse. ’n Tema benadering is geneem om die kwalitatiewe data te annaliseer. Gevolgens is die data van die kwalitatiewe studie gekwantifiseer. Die bevindings van die studie het getoon dat 74.1% (n=195) van deelnemers seksuele ondervinding voor die studie gehad het. Van die deelnemers het 60.5% (n=115) hulle eerste seksuele ondervinding gehad voor die ouderdom van 16 jaar. Van die deelnemers het 33.2% (n=77) hulle voortplantings onderrig teen 13 jarige ouderdom ontvang. Net 50.4% (n=116) van deelnemers het bekend gemaak dat die onderrig wat hulle ontvang het, hulle altyd gelei het tot veiliger seksuele keuses. Van die deelnemers het 21.9% (n=59) het gevoel dat hulle op een of ander manier verhoed was om voorbehoeding te bekom. Van die deelnemers, sou 94.4% (n=255) verkies het om alternatiewe voortplantings gesondheidsonderrig van ’n professionele gesondheidsorg voorsiener te ontvang, 61.5% (n=166) in klinieke en 33% (n=89) deur ’n verpleegster by ’n skool. ’n Toename in voortplantings onderrig binne die skoolsisteem is versoek deur 52 (19.3%) van die deelnemers, met 30% (n=84) van die deelnemers wat voortplantings onderrig van die huis af sou verkies het. Die hoop word dus uitgespreek dat die voorsiening van voortplantings gesondheidsorg aan kinders so jonk as 12 jaar binne die skool sisteem voorsien kan word, deur ’n professionele gesondheidsorg verpleegster op ’n soortgelyke basis as in publieke gesondheids klinieke. Die studie se bevindinge lei die navorser tot die voorstel om n alternatiewe model te ontwikkel en beplan. Hierdeur moet die voorsiening van voortplantings gesondheidsorg geskied wat sou verseker dat die volledige regte en sorgvoorwaardes aan die heug toegestaan deur die nuwe Kinder Wet (Wet 38 van 2005), aan voldoen word.

This study investigated whether the current provision of sex education made available through the Life Orientation Curriculum in South African Secondary Schools is directly applicable and relevant to the sexual developmental and identity formation needs of learners at a senior secondary school level. This study resulted from the desire to point out that students at this stage in their lives require more than the precautionary biological information that is often readily available to them through the curriculum as well as other parental and health care sources. A survey was carried out at two single gender schools on the Bluff in Durban and an attempt was made to gather data on the gender differences that arose between the two samples in terms of the sources of sex education from which they are drawing. The sample size was 179 learners with 89 female learners and 90 male learners. The preferred source of sex education by both girls and boys were parents accounting for 34,5% of the girls and 18,6% of the boys. The second highest rated source for boys was their teachers with a frequency of 17,5%. However, girls indicated a greater preference for professional sex educators than teachers with 7,3% and 5,1% respectively. This was different from the sources that the students were actually receiving their sex education from, with boys and girls regarding teachers as their best source with a frequency of 16,5% for boys and 13,6% for girls. The next best rated source for boys with a frequency of 14,2% were male and female friends with a very similar distribution of the boys indicating a preference for male or female friends with a frequency of 7,4% and 6,8% respectively. Girls had a higher satisfaction level than boys with current knowledge of sex however had lower satisfaction level than boys on finding out about things to do with sex. The mean score for girls (M=5,35) is significantly lower than for boys (M=5,44), t=0.386, df172, p<.005 on the topic of satisfaction about finding out about things to do with sex. The mean score for boys for the topic of satisfaction with current knowledge of sex (M=5.60) is significantly lower than the mean score for girls (M=5,77), t=0,925, df171, p<.005. Both boys and girls indicated that parents were not an adequate source of sex education and fathers were less likely than mothers to be involved in communication on the topic of sex with them. Boys were more likely than girls to engage in sexual behavior and activities and be sexually active as indicated by the regression where gender contributed 22,4% to the model (The Sexual Activities Scale) at 0.003 level of significance. It seems that girls are more comfortable to share information iv amongst themselves than boys are. Boys seem more willing to communicate and learn from both genders in their peer groups. The Life Orientation Curriculum has been efficient in informing students on precautionary biological information however boys and girls are interested in learning about sex and sexuality and are not receiving this information from their scholarly source but rather from a number of different sources. There is also evidence that gender differences exist when it comes to learning about sex and thus may suggest that the Life Orientation Curriculum’s sex education component should be segmentable on the basis of gender i.e. the messages about sex should be sculpted in a different manner for boys as compared to girls. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

Gender is inherent in all patriarchal cultures given that women and girls in these societies are relegated to a significantly lower status than men and boys. Many researchers acknowledge the importance of addressing gender inequality in order to adequately understand and address HIV and AIDS transmission and prevention. However, there remains in this area a more direct focus on the specific cultural attitudes and practices that expose women and girls to HIV infections. Professionals in the educational field need to specifically address gender norms and roles and their influence on young people’s sexual behaviour, particularly, with regards to risky behaviour that often has consequences for women and young girls. Sexuality is part and parcel of young girls’ experiences through adulthood which is manifested in personal friendships, relations and social interaction. These encounters constitute sites within which sexual identities are developed, practiced and actively produced through processes of negotiation. As a result of societal influences, these encounters vary immensely between boys and girls because gender inequality has a significant impact on choices available to women and girls, which are often constrained by coercion and violence. Drawing on qualitative research conducted in a high school in KwaMashu, North of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, the study investigated ways in which young girls (16-17) give meaning to sexuality, sexual risks and how gender is embedded within these meanings. The study answered three critical questions: What do young girls regard as risky sexual behaviour? Why do young girls engage in risky sexual activities? How is gender connected to sexual risk? Data came from participants’ focus group discussions and indepth interviews with 12 young girls. The study revealed that through social and cultural practices some young girls construct complex gendered relations of domination and subordination that position boys and girls differently, often creating gender inequalities and sexual vulnerability for those gendered as girls. Young girls’ vulnerability is characterised by confusing experiences coupled with silences from their parents’ side about sexuality. The distinctive experiences are complex tensions and contradictions surrounding constructions of sexuality that are predicated upon unequal power and gender relations characterised by coercion, ukuthwala and the control of young girls’ sexuality and gendered experiences that put young girls at risk of contracting HIV and AIDS. The study recommends that parents must communicate with young people (boys and girls) about sexuality. There should be policies that are put in place by all the education stakeholders to address issues of sexuality and gender imbalances within schools. This will help young people to develop the skills needed to adequately negotiate safe sex, avoid risky behaviour and coercive situations, help young people to maintain healthy relationships and address vulnerabilities and promote gender equality and equity in our society. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2011.

In this paper I address the problem of risky sexual behaviours among boys between 16 and 17 in an Umlazi high school, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The main question, which I address, is what boys in an Umlazi high school consider as risky sexual behaviour. My central thesis in addressing this question is exploring the boys’ risky sexual behaviours in an Umlazi high school in order to understand their risky sexual behaviours which can lead to HIV and AIDS infection. My aims and purpose in this essay are thus to understand the boys meaning of risky sexual behaviour, why do these boys in the study engage themselves in risky sexual behaviors and how does the social constructions impact on risky sexual behaviours of boys in an Umlazi high school. The research context of this study is in the domain of masculinity and sexuality. I start from premise that masculinity and sexuality are dynamic and fluid assuming that their risky sexual behaviours are the result of social construction of masculinities and sexualities. I used the qualitative methods in order to understand their world and their meaning of risky sexual behaviours. My results showed that the society shaped the boys meaning of masculinity and sexuality, their identity of being boys and attitudes towards sex and being a boy. In addition to that these boys were urging to be the boys that their society know and expect, they did not want to be different or act differently to what the society consider normal of which there is a price of being alienated or subordinated and ostracized if a boy perform alternative masculinity and sexuality and these constructions affects the girls and young women as they are expected to be permissive. Furthermore the boys aspirations in this study were geared by powerful males such as the President of South Africa in his openly polygamous relationships and they revealed that they promote polygamy which is the culture of the Zulus, so they are already practicing it by having multiple partners which they take as their prerogative as boys. In short, this paper addresses the problem of risky sexual behaviours among boys in a selected Umlazi high school by the group interview held in the research site in order to understand the boys meaning of risky sexual behaviours in an Umlazi high school. Furthermore the study explores what boys consider risky sexual behaviours, their reasons to engage themselves in risky sexual behaviours and the impact of the social construction of masculinity and sexuality. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.