Factors which contribute to learners perceptions about HIV/AIDS education in schools around Malamulele

Date
2014-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a growing trend of sexual activity among learners in schools around Malamulele; this is evident from the rise in the number of teenage pregnancies in these schools. This study is aimed at finding factors that contribute to the perceptions these learners have towards HIV/AIDS education. The Department of Education has put in place programmes to educate learners about HIV/AIDS, which form part of the curriculum and is taught in schools as Life Orientation. Despite the intensive attention given to instill knowledge and equip learners with skills to make appropriate and informed decisions on the subject of sex, teenage pregnancies continue to rise in these schools, posing a serious challenge for the productivity of the concerned schools as well as education at large. The researcher administered a questionnaire to the learners and an interview schedule or the educators. The findings reveal that the content covered in Life Orientation concerning sex and sexuality education is not enough and much should still be done in this regard. The results from the learners‟ questionnaires indicate that learners do not have enough information or a clear understanding of the subject of HIV/AIDS. They lack the correct information; learners continue to engage in risky behaviours such as unprotected sex. However, there are other contributing factors such as exposure to sex materials and media, which seem to emphasize sex. The learners are also going through a difficult learning curve of discovery and peer pressure which impacts their decision making. E researcher recommends that schools in question to be assisted with skills to deal with peer pressure and media exposure, are offset learners are helped to make appropriate decisions concerning sex.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is „n groeiende tendens van seksuele aktiwiteit onder leerders in die skole rondom Malamulele. Hierdie tendens kan waargeneem word uit die styging in die aantal tienderjariges in die area wat swanger raak. In hierdie navorsingsprojek is „n vraelys by „n steekproef van leerders geadministreer en is onderhoude met opvoeders gevoer deur middel van „n gestruktureeerde vraelys. Resultate toon aan dat die inhoud van die kursus in Lewensoreïntasie nie voldoende is om die probleem aan te spreek nie. Leerders het nog steeds nie „n behoorlike begrip van die gevaar van MIV/Vigs nie en stel hulle derhalwe nog steeds bloot aan die gevare wat die pandemie inhou. Die studie het ook gevind dat daar ander bydraende faktore is wat lei tot onnodige blootstelling aan MIV/Vigs. Leerders word meer en meer blootgestel aan materiaal van „n seksuele aard en die media speel ook „n rol in die risiko-gesrag van die leerders. Die leerders gaan deur „n moeilike leerkurwe en word dikwels blootgestel aan druk van medeleerders. In die navorsing word aanbeveel dat skole verder ondersteun word met programme en ingrepe wat sal help om die leerders meer bewus te maak van die gevare van MIV/Vigs en sodoende verhoed dat die leerders hulle nie onnodig blootstel aan die gevare van die pandemie nie.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.
Keywords
UCTD, AIDS (Disease) -- South Africa -- Limopopo -- Prevention -- Study and teaching, HIV infections -- South Africa -- Limpopo -- Prevention -- Study and teaching, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management
Citation