Browsing by Author "November, Terence S."

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The contribution of adult learning centres in educating communities on HIV/AIDS and related issues
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004-12) November, Terence S.; Kapp, C. A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Education Policy Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Most people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) do not know they carry the virus. HIV is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (more commonly known as AIDS). Many people know nothing or too little about HIV to protect themselves against it. Mainstream educational and some private sector services currently expose their learners or workers to HIV/AIDS education and training. Despite these services there are three groups of adults who would not benefit from the available HIV/AIDS education services. They are the unemployed (including dropouts from the mainstream schooling system), those working in the informal sector (e.g. hawkers, taxi drivers, chars, etc.) and those working for companies that do not see HIV/AIDS education as a priority. The aim of this study is to see if a HIV/AIDS training programme targeting adult learners leads to a greater awareness about HIV/AIDS and related issues. This study utilised an experimental design. The study was based on the two group pretest, post-test, post-past-test design. The data-collection instruments used in this study were questionnaires, interviews and literature reviews. During the pretest there were no statistically significant differences between the experimental group and the control group. However, at the posttest, there was a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group, e.g. on issues like the difference between HIV and AIDS, the window period, that mosquitoes cannot pass on the HIV to humans, and that there is no cure for HIV/AIDS. At the postpost test stage the experimental group still knew more about HIV/AIDS and related issues compared to the control group. The participants, who were part of the experimental group, were also able to share HIV/AIDS information with family members, friends and colleagues, and they realized the importance of HIV/AIDS education for all, which would reduce or eradicate stigmatization and discrimination against infected people. It is recommended that the HIV/AIDS training should not only be knowledge-based, but rather be coupled with skills training and development. The latter combination will allow learners to be even more effective and better equipped to share important and relevant HIV/AIDS information with significant others. Parents who will be able to talk to their children about HIV/AIDS issues will create an environment of trust between them and at the same time their children can also verify information they had gotten from the 'street'. In order to reach more people regarding HIV/AIDS education it is thus recommended that ALCs (Adult Learning Centres) and the private sector should start negotiations about how they can complement each other in terms of educating not only their workers, but also their workers' family members. Hoping for a vaccine or cure for HIV/AIDS at this stage is an unsound strategy. We might not have a medical vaccine, but our only vaccine against HIV is education. The relevant South African government departments (Education, Health and Labour) together with the private sector and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) need to start negotiations in order to share a common goal and vision regarding HIV/AIDS education and training. Further research regarding HIV/AIDS and related issues remains of the utmost importance.