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

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: AIDS is a killer disease which is spreading like wildfire in all sectors of the
population of Southern Africa, in spite of AIDS prevention programmes that
are implemented in these communities. Why does this state of affairs exist?
Conflicting views exist about the origin of AIDS and about the knowledge of
different racial groups with regard to the disease. A number of researchers
have argued that knowledge or information dissemination is not a necessary
condition for behavioural change, as is evident from historical efforts to
combat sexually transmitted disease. However, this thesis shows that
knowledge is a variable or component that has frequently been used in almost
all studies done on AIDS in Southern Africa. The present author thus
searches for the rationale for the phenomenon that knowledge of AIDS does
not necessarily result in preventative behavioural change. In this regard the
importance of effective communication strategies and cognisance of the
nature of target groups are highlighted, because negligence regarding these
factors can serve as an impediment to behavioural change. The whole social
fabric of the target community and basic individual needs are important
elements that should also be major considerations before preventative
programmes are implemented. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: VIGS is 'n dodelike siekte wat snel versprei in aile sektore van die bevolking
van Suider- Afrika, ten spyte van VIGS-verkomingsprogramme wat in hierdie
gemeenskappe qermplementeer word, Waarom gebeur dit? Botsende
menings bestaan oor die oorsprong van VIGS en oor die kennis van die
verkillende rassegroepe ten opsigte van die siekte. 'n Aantal navorsers is
van mening dat kennis of informasieverspreiding nie 'n noodsaaklike vereiste
is om gedrag te verander nie, soos blyk uit die geskiedenis van vorige
pogings om seksueel oordraagbare siektes te beveg, In hierdie tesis word
egter ge'illustreer dat kennis 'n veranderlike of komponent is wat dikwels
gebruik is in byna aile vorige studies oor VIGS in Suider-Afrika. Die huidige
skrywer ondersoek dus die rasionaal vir die verskynsel dat kennis van VIGS
nie noodwendig tot voorkomende gedragsverandering lei nie. In hierdie
verband word die belangrikheid van effektiewe kommunikasiestrategiee en
kennis van die aard van die teikengroep beklemtoon, aangesien
verwaarlosing van hierdie faktore as struikelblok in gedragsverandering kan
dien Die totale sosiale struktuur van die teikengemeenskap en basiese
individuele behoeftes is belangrike elemente wat ook in ag geneem moet
word voordat voorkomingsprogramme ge'implemeteer word,

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51809
Date12 1900
CreatorsOliphant, Mandisa Julenda
ContributorsSpangenberg, J .J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format43 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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